Catawba Sports Information:

The Catawba women’s basketball team returned to action after the Christmas break and dropped an 81-64 decision at Division I Appalachian State on Tuesday night at the Holmes Center.  The Mountaineers improved to 4-4, while the  Indians fell to 5-5.

Bri Johnson  led Catawba with 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds.  Chloe Bully  had 16 points and handed out four assists.  Janna Dixon added nine points.

The ndians connected on 36% (24-of-66) from the field, while Appalachian State canned 54% (35-of-65).  The Mountaineers grabbed two more rebounds and Catawba committed one more turnover in the contest.

Keke Copper and Katelyn Doub led a balanced Mountaineer attack with 12 points each.  Joi Jones collected nine points with Bria Huffman, Vernessa Hinnant and Mia Marshall all scoring eight points.

Catawba trailed by just six at the break as ASU took a 35-29 lead to the half.  The Mountaineers could not pull away until the midpoint of the second half.  Leading 49-39, Appalachian went on an 11-2 run to go on top 60-41 with 8:42 left.  Doub had five points in the surge, including a three-pointer.

Bully had eight early points to help Catawba to a 10-8 lead after five minutes.  Huffman’s three-point play at the 10:40 mark of the half put the Mountaineers on top 19-16 and ASU led the rest of the way.

Catawba is back in league action on Saturday at Anderson with a 2 p.m. tip off.