Thursday’s WNIT matchup against the Appalachian State University women’s basketball team started off well for UNC Wilmington. Tawanna Lee recorded her first steal of the game within 30 seconds of tip-off.

On the offensive side of the ball, the going was a little tougher. The first possession ended with a block by ASU’s Anna Freeman and the Seahawks didn’t end up scoring their first points until they were down eight points to the Mountaineers. UNCW battled back, but eventually suffered its season-ending loss to ASU in Trask Coliseum, 79-73.

Another major issue for the Seahawks was rebounding. “We really struggled rebounding and letting (ASU) have whatever they wanted in the lane,” said forward Abria Trice. From the onset of the game, the Mountaineers used their size advantage to take control of the boards and the lane. Trice brought down five rebounds for the Seahawks, but no one else on the team was able to get more than two. Appalachian State brought down 19 rebounds in the first half to the Seahawks’ 12 to gain an early edge.

The Seahawks, desperate to create offensive opportunities, played aggressive defense to create turnovers. It worked out well through the first half. Tawanna Lee finished the first half with four steals, and Alisha Andrews finished the first half with five steals of her own. The Seahawks kept the Mountaineers from maintaining possession and scored enough points in transition to gain a respectable advantage on the scoreboard by the end of the half.

Coming out of intermission, ASU switched to a triangle-and-two defense that UNCW coach Cooper-Dyke said the Seahawks “just didn’t have enough individual pieces working together…to overcome.” The score was tied five times throughout the second half and there were just as many lead changes. Both teams attempted to impose a different style of play on the other.

The Seahawks were playing a faster-paced style and finished with more points off fast breaks and 15 steals while ASU focused on playing effective half-court offense and tight defense. The frustration on both teams mounted because of the friction between the two styles. The Seahawks had 10 fouls in the second half after only having four in the first, and the Mountaineers finished with 18 fouls.

With four minutes left in the game, UNCW forward Ayoola Weaver made a layup to tie the game at 67, and drew a foul in the process. With the chance to take the lead, Weaver missed. Afterward, the Seahawks came undone. The next ASU possession was capped off by two free throws hit by Anna Freeman after a foul was called on Tawanna Lee.

The clincher was in the final minute when Chakeitha Weldon hit a jumpshot to put the Mountaineers up by six points. Cooper-Dyke called an immediate timeout and the Mountaineers ran off the court with wide-open mouths, following Weldon who had her arms spread as if she was flying over to the Appalachian bench.

“They played a really great game. They fought hard and we wish them the best of luck throughout the rest of the tournament,” said Lee afterward. Cooper-Dyke added, “Our girls played hard all year. It’s not what we wanted to end a 20-win season, but it will motivate us to work harder for next year.”

According to Lee, the goal next season is the NCAA Tournament, rather than the WNIT, and with a team returning four of five starters, it seems like a reasonable goal.