APSU Lady Govs Basketball kicks off 48th Season against Wright State at Dunn Center

Austin Peay (0-0) vs. Wright State (0-0)

Friday, November 14th, 2014 | 6:00pm CDT
Clarksville, TN | Winfield Dunn Center

Clarksville, TN – The 48th Austin Peay women’s basketball campaign begins with a 6:00pm, Friday contest against Horizon League tournament champion Wright State.

Austin Peay returns four starters among 10 letter winners from last season’s squad.

That group includes the Lady Govs top five in both scoring and rebounding. Despite the large number of returnees, the projected APSU starting five includes one senior, two juniors and two sophomores – still a relatively young squad.

The Lady Govs won both of their preseason exhibition contests, defeating NAIA foes St. Catharine (92-45) and Martin Methodist (85-71). Junior guard Tiasha Gray led APSU in the two contests with 32 points and 14 assists. Sophomore center Tearra Banks added 28 points and 17 rebounds while junior forward Jennifer Nwokocha contributed 26 points and 17 rebounds.

APSU’s offense showed signs of strength against the two smaller opponents, making more than 50 percent of its shots and averaging 88.5 points per game. However, the Lady Govs defense continued to be a concern, allowing Martin Methodist to score 60 points in the first 32 minutes before stiffening in the final 8 minutes to escape with a victory.

Friday’s contest is one of just two Austin Peay will play at home in the season’s first seven games. After a trip to Evansville, Sunday, the Lady Govs return home to face Grand Canyon, November 22nd, before starting a four-game road trip.

Austin Peay Lady Govs Basketball

• Austin Peay women’s basketball team begins its 48th season with Friday’s contest. It is the 39th consecutive season of play since the program was revived in 1976-77.
• APSU opens the 2014-15 season at home for the fifth time in head coach Carrie Daniels‘ nine seasons. Austin Peay is 2-6 in season openers under Daniels and 3-5 in home openers.
• APSU was picked to finish 11th in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll, placing ahead of only Morehead State – Wright State head coach Mike Bradbury’s previous head coaching stop.
• After being shut out of the OVC Tournament the last two seasons, APSU seeks a return to Nashville. Austin Peay had not missed the tournament in back-to-back seasons since 1991-92 and 1992-93.
• Junior guard Tiasha Gray was named to the Preseason All-OVC team for a second consecutive season by a vote of coaches and sports information directors.
• Sophomore center Tearra Banks returns after earning OVC All-Freshman Team honors last season. It was the second consecutive year (Tiasha Gray, 2012-13) an APSU player was named to the team.
• Austin Peay lost just one starter and four letterwinners from last season’s team but returns both its top five scorers and rebounders.
• Five newcomers join the APSU roster in 2014-15 and two – forward Sydney Gooch, guard Madison Rich – saw significant playing time in Austin Peay’s two exhibition contests.

About the Wright State Raiders

Wright State was picked to finish second in the Horizon League preseason poll, behind perennial favorite Wisconsin-Green Bay… The Raiders finished second in the 2013-14 regular-season race, but upset regular-season champion Green Bay to earn their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth, losing to Kentucky in the opening round.

Senior guard Kim Demmings was named the league’s preseason player of the year after earning both First-Team Horizon League and Tournament MVP honors last season… Demmings is 23 points shy of the 2,000-point plateau entering the 2014-15 campaign… Tay’ler Mingo joined Demmings on the preseason All-HL squad, after averaging 15.1 points, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game, one year following a transfer from Florida State… Wright State head coach Mike Bradbury previously coached at OVC member Morehead State (2007-10).

An Austin Peay Win Would

Snap a six-game losing streak carried over from the 2013-14 season… End a seven-game losing streak to nonconference opponents… Be its first win against Wright State… End a two-game losing streak in season openers… End a two-game losing streak in home openers… Improve Daniels’ record to 89-157 overall… Make the Lady Govs 442-630 overall since 1976-77.

An Austin Peay Loss Would

Extend its losing streak to seven games… Be its eighth-straight nonconference loss… Keep it winless against Wright State (0-4)… Be its third-straight home-opening loss… Be its third-straight season-opening loss… Drop Daniels’ record to 88-158 overall… Make the Lady Govs 441-631 overall since 1976-77.

Broadcast Information

Radio – WAPX 91.9 FM
Play-by-Play: Josh Stephenson
Analyst: Blake Ball

Govs on the Web

Live Video
www.OVCDigitalNetwork.com

Live Audio
www.LetsGoPeay.com/Watch

Live Statistics
www.PeayStats.com