APSU Women’s Basketball
Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team closed within a point in the game’s final minute but could not find the go-ahead basket in a 69-65 Ohio Valley Conference loss to league-leading Tennessee Tech, Thursday night, at the Dunn Center.
Austin Peay (6-14, 5-3 OVC) trailed by three points, 62-59 with one minute remaining. Freshman Nicole Olszewski cut the lead to one-point, 62-61, with a pair of free throws a the 35-second mark.
Olszewski made a layup on the Lady Govs ensuing possession and Rayner made another layup on APSU’s penultimate drive. However, Tennessee Tech made three of its final four free throws to secure the victory.
Austin Peay scored seven of the game’s first 10 points and led by four points, 7-3, at the 16:35 mark. Yet the Lady Govs suffered through another shooting drought later in the half, making one free throw and one field goal over a span of 5:30.
Tennessee Tech pieced together a 12-3 run during that drought and led by 10 points, 29-19, with 5:22 remaining. The Golden Eagles scored just four points the half’s remainder but took a 33-29 lead into halftime. TTU did not surrender that lead in the second half.
Austin Peay relied heavily on its starting five as each played at least 30 minutes. Rayner led the effort in both scoring (16) and rebounding (13) for her season’s third double-double. Olszewski added 15 points while junior Whitney Hanley and senior Brooke Faulkner each added 12 points.
Junior Tacarra Hayes led Tennessee Tech with 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Junior Rachel Glidden chipped in 16 points. The Golden Eagles made 23-of-27 from the free-throw line.
Austin Peay returns to action with a 5:15pm, Saturday OVC contest against Jacksonville State.
