APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – Despite a significant size disadvantage, Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team pushed Pac-12 foe California to the final horn in a 67-58 season-opening loss, Friday night at the Dunn Center.
Austin Peay (0-1) entered the game facing a noticeable size concern as California listed seven players taller than APSU’s tallest player.
California (1-0) held double digit leads in both the first and third quarters, nearly breaking the game opening in the third frame. The Bears scored 14 straight points over a six-minute span to build a 55-40 lead with 1:09 left in the third. Austin Peay committed six turnovers during the span, resulting in 11 California points.
Yet Austin Peay battled back for the second time in the contest, as four players combined to spark a 13-3 run that slashed the deficit to five points, 58-53, with 5:24 left. The Lady Govs would not get any closer the game’s remainder, but did not allow the lead to reach double digits again.
Speaking of battling back, the Lady Govs battled back from an 11-point first quarter deficit. The Bears held that 11-point advantage with 2:08 remaining in the first quarter. But Austin Peay cut it to six points, 19-13, at the first break thanks to four points from junior center Tearra Banks.
Austin Peay kept up the charge throughout the second quarter, ultimately getting to within a point, 32-31, on a pair of Gray free throws with 19 seconds left. The Lady Govs trailed by two points at halftime, but weren’t done with their charge.
Senior guard Tiasha Gray and junior forward Beth Rates hit back-to-back jumpers to give APSU its first lead, 35-33, 54 seconds into the second half. A Madison Rich three-pointer at 7:46 gave Austin Peay its final lead, 40-38, before the Bears third quarter run changed the game’s momentum.
Gray led Austin Peay with a 28-point performance – her 25th career 20-point outing – thanks to a 5-of-10 effort from three-point range. Junior center Tearra Banks added 10 points in her return to the court, converting 4-of-5 from the floor.
Junior forward Courtney Range led California with 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting. Freshman forward Kristen Anigwe added 11 points and eight rebounds.
Austin Peay has less than 24 hours until its next outing – Christian Brothers visiting for a 7:00pm, Saturday contest at the Dunn Center.
Box Score
California (1-0) 67, Austin Peay (0-1) 58
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 19 | 14 | 22 | 12 | 67 |
| Austin Peay | 13 | 18 | 11 | 16 | 58 |
California
| Player | FGM -FGA |
3FGM -3FGA |
FTM -FTA |
OFF -DEF |
TOT | PF | TP | A | TO | BLK | STL | MIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courtney Range | 10-17 | 2-4 | 1-2 | 1-4 | 5 | 4 | 23 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 27 |
| Kristine Anigwe | 4-15 | 0-0 | 3-8 | 5-3 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 30 |
| Gabby Green | 4-14 | 2-9 | 0-3 | 2-6 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 36 |
| Asha Thomas | 3-6 | 0-2 | 4-4 | 1-1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 32 |
| Mikayla Cowling | 2-12 | 0-3 | 2-2 | 2-5 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 36 |
| Penina Davidson | 2-4 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 4-4 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 17 |
| MaAne Mosley | 0-2 | 0-1 | 1-2 | 2-1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| KC Waters |
0-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2-1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Chen Yue | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Totals | 25-72 | 4-20 | 13-23 | 20-25 | 45 | 18 | 67 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 200 |
Austin Peay 58
| Player | FGM -FGA |
3FGM -3FGA |
FTM -FTA |
OFF -DEF |
TOT | PF | TP | A | TO | BLK | STL | MIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiasha Gray | 9-21 | 5-10 | 5-6 | 1-4 | 5 | 4 | 28 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 34 |
| Beth Rates | 3-6 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2-6 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| J’Nayah Hall | 1-2 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 1-6 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| Madison Rich | 1-5 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 19 |
| Brianne Alexander | 1-5 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Tearra Banks | 4-5 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 1-3 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| Sydney Gooch | 1-9 | 0-1 | 1-2 | 1-8 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| Shelby Olszewski | 1-5 | 0-2 | 1-2 | 2-2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 20 |
| Falon Baker | 0-4 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| Totals | 21-62 | 7-20 | 9-12 | 8-30 | 38 | 22 | 58 | 11 | 16 | 2 | 5 | 200 |
