BOONE, N.C. (Interstat) — Nakiyah Mays-Prince scored 18 points and dished out six assists, leading Louisiana-Monroe to a 78-70 victory over Appalachian State in a Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball game Friday afternoon at Holmes Center.

The Warhawks (9-12, 4-6) built a commanding lead through three quarters and withstood a frantic fourth-quarter rally by the Mountaineers (10-11, 5-5) to snap a two-game skid. Appalachian State, coming off a win against South Alabama, saw its modest momentum halted.

Louisiana-Monroe established control early, using a disruptive defense to fuel its offense. The Warhawks forced 10 first-half turnovers, converting them into 12 points, and dominated inside with 28 points in the paint before halftime. This effort staked them to a 34-27 lead at the break.

The third quarter proved decisive. The Warhawks exploded for 22 points, their highest-scoring period of the game, while holding Appalachian State to 17. Mays-Prince, a 5-foot-5 guard from Chicago, ignited the run with a 3-pointer and a transition jumper. J’Mani Ingram, who finished with 15 points, was a consistent finisher around the rim, and Marcavia Shavers provided a strong interior presence with nine points and multiple offensive rebounds.

By the start of the fourth quarter, Louisiana-Monroe’s lead had ballooned to 56-44, and it extended to 17 points following a 3-pointer from Jazmine Jackson just 12 seconds into the final period.

Appalachian State, however, refused to capitulate. Sparked by the backcourt duo of Jada Burton and Emma Smith, the Mountaineers mounted a sustained comeback. Burton scored 10 of her team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter, while Smith, who tallied 13 points and four assists, orchestrated the offense and applied relentless defensive pressure with four steals.

The Mountaineers employed a full-court press that rattled the Warhawks, forcing eight turnovers in the final quarter. A 12-2 run, capped by a Daisia Mitchell free throw and a driving layup from Burton, cut the deficit to 66-61 with just over four minutes remaining. The Holmes Center crowd of 208 grew louder with each possession as the momentum swung decisively toward the home team.

The most critical sequence of the game followed immediately. With the lead precarious and the Warhawks reeling, Mays-Prince steadied her team. Fouled on a 3-point attempt, she calmly sank all three free throws to push the lead back to eight. After an Appalachian State miss, Asia Barclay hit a crucial jumper from the elbow to extend the advantage to 71-61 with 3:13 to play, effectively halting the Mountaineers’ surge.

Appalachian State made one final push, pulling within six points on two occasions in the final minute, but each time Louisiana-Monroe had an answer. Kamille Brown, who contributed eight points off the bench, converted a key three-point play, and Mays-Prince drilled her second 3-pointer of the afternoon with 1:24 left to seal the outcome.

The Warhawks’ interior dominance was a defining statistic, as they outscored Appalachian State 46-32 in the paint and held a 19-12 advantage in points off turnovers. Shavers and reserve post player Marissa Gasaway, who added eight points, were instrumental in establishing that presence.

For Appalachian State, Elena Pericic joined Burton and Smith in double figures with 14 points. Mitchell finished with 10 points, but the Mountaineers struggled from the perimeter and could not overcome their early deficit despite outscoring Louisiana-Monroe 26-22 in the fourth quarter.

The win moves Louisiana-Monroe ahead of Appalachian State in the Sun Belt standings. The Warhawks will host Georgia State on Wednesday. Appalachian State hits the road to face Troy on the same night.