APSU Women’s Basketball
Clarksville, TN – Fresh off suffering its first OVC home loss, Austin Peay women’s basketball team will attempt to regather its Dunn Center momentum when it hosts Jacksonville State in a 5:15p.m., Saturday contest.
The Lady Govs suffered their first conference home loss in a 69-65 loss to league-leading Tennessee Tech, Thursday night. A five-minute, first-half drought was just enough of an opening for the Golden Eagles to build a 10-point advantage which they would maintain throughout the game’s remainder. Austin Peay would close to within one point in the game’s final minute, but could not get a key basket to take the lead.
Jacksonville State remained unbeaten on the road in OVC play (3-0) with a 77-73 victory at Tennessee State, Thursday. The Gamecocks led the entire second half, but had to fend off a late charge from the Tigers, who closed within two points with three minutes remaining.
Junior Brittany Wiley led JSU with 28 points and eight rebounds in the win. She made just seven field goals (20 attempts, 35 percent) but was 13-of-16 (81.3 percent) from the free-throw line. Senior Zenobia Pitts added 18 points and five assists off the bench.
Conference Race Tight As Halfway Point Nears
Saturday’s contest will mark the halfway point in the 2010-11 OVC race. Tennessee Tech leads the way with a 7-1 mark and holds a one-game lead. Morehead State and UT Martin are tied for second at 6-2. Eastern Illinois and Austin Peay, who each lost Thursday, fell into a tie for fourth place with 5-3 marks. Jacksonville State has moved into the discussion with a perfect road mark (3-0) and is now sixth with a 4-4 league mark.
Key Notables From Lady Govs vs Tennessee Tech
For the first time this season, Austin Peay had four players in double-figure scoring, led by Jasmine Rayner’s 16 points. Nicole Olszewski scored 15 while Brooke Faulkner and Whitney Hanley each had 12 points.
Jasmine Rayner posted a double-double, her season’s third, with 16 points and a game high 13 rebounds. It also was her 12th career double-double. All three of her double-doubles have occurred at the Dunn Center this season.
Austin Peay had only two bench points in the game, those coming from Dalila Thomas, who played 15 minutes. Other than Thomas, three other bench players combined for nine minutes played.
It was the first time this season each of the Lady Govs five starters played more than 30 minutes in a game.
The Lady Govs’ loss to Tennessee Tech, 69-65, ended their season’s second two-game win streak. It also ended Austin Peay’s two-game home win streak.
The Lady Govs shot 40 percent from the floor, while Tennessee Tech made only 34.5 percent. It is the first time Austin Peay lost in OVC play, and only the third time this season, when out-shooting an opponent.
Tennessee Tech won the game at the free-throw line where they made 23-of-27, while Austin Peay made 10-of-13 at the stripe. The Lady Govs had just two players – Rayner (6-of-7) and Hanley (4-of-6) – reach the charity line.
Next Up: Eastern Kentucky
Austin Peay returns to the road for the first leg of its annual “Death Valley” trip when it meets Eastern Kentucky, Thursday. The Lady Govs have not had much success at McBrayer Arena, winning there just seven times. Austin Peay lost last season’s meeting in Richmond, 61-54, and has lost four of the last six meetings there.
Next Carrie Daniels Show, February 2nd
The Carrie Daniels Show will take a week off due to the upcoming “Death Valley” road trip, but will return with a 6:00pm, Wednesday, February 2nd, show live from Edwards Steakhouse on Franklin Street in Clarksville.
Hosted by Brian Rives for the third consecutive season, the show will air live on WVRY 105.1 FM and be simulcast over the internet at www.LetsGoPeay.com.
