APSU Lady Govs Basketball takes on Arkansas State Red Wolves, Wednesday

Austin Peay (2-9) at Arkansas State (5-2)

Wednesday, December 16th, 2015 | 11:30am CT
Jonesboro, AR | Convocation Center

Jonesboro, AR – Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team will make its western-most trip of the 2015-16 schedule when it meets Arkansas State in an 11:30am, Wednesday contest at the Convocation Center.

Wednesday’s contest is Game 3 of the current four-game road trip that will wrap up both the nonconference and 2015 portions of the Govs schedule.

Austin Peay continues to navigate through one of the nation’s toughest nonconference slates, with its nine Division I games ranking as the 34th toughest schedule according to RPIRatings.com.

Arkansas State will add to that strong portfolio, entering the week ranked 64th in the NCAA’s official RPI.

For a second straight game, Austin Peay put forth a stronger second half performance in Saturday’s 73-65 loss at Kennesaw State. The Govs outscored the Owls 22-15 in the third quarter, claiming a 52-49 lead after the third frame.

However, Austin Peay could not maintain the momentum into the fourth quarter, surrendering a 10-2 run in the final three minutes in the 73-65 loss.

Senior guard Tiasha Gray tied her season best with 28 points while junior center Tearra Banks added a season-high 22 points. However, only two other Govs players scored in the contest – redshirt freshman guard Falon Baker (nine) and sophomore forward Sydney Gooch (six). It was the fewest scorers in a game (four) this season.

Arkansas State extended its home win streak to 12 games with an 82-50 victory against Alcorn State, Saturday. Khadija Brown-Haywood led ASU with her third career double-double, finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Aundrea Gamble, the preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, added 15 points.

The More You Know

Gray Milestone Watch Continues
Senior guard Tiasha Gray enters Wednesday’s contest needing just 19 points to become only the fourth APSU women’s basketball player to reach the 1,500-point plateau. She also is within sight of the following milestones during her final season in an Austin Peay uniform:

OVC Career Steals | Currently 7th (260)
Next: 288 by Danielle Carson (YSU, 1982-86)

APSU Career Steals | Currently 1st (260)
Previous Record: 243 by Tracie Mason (1987-91)

APSU Career Points | Currently 6th (1,481)
Next: 1,497 by Ashley Haynes (2002-06)

APSU Career Assists | Currently 4th (409)
Next: 435 by Paige Smith (1999-03)

Midlick Musings

The biggest story line during the Austin Peay offseason was the hiring of David Midlick as the program’s 15th head coach. He is a familiar face to Austin Peay fans, returning to Clarksville after previous stints as a men’s basketball graduate assistant (2003-06) and women’s basketball assistant coach (2010-12).

Midlick was involved in the recruiting for the current senior class, but did not have the opportunity to coach them, departing to become head coach at Delta State in 2012.

Lady Govs Ledger

Midlick inherited an Austin Peay women’s basketball team largely unchanged from its 2014-15 edition. Four starters and 11 letter winners return from a team that posted the program’s best record since 2010-11.

Senior guard Tiasha Gray highlights the returning group after earning Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors last season.

Also returning are junior Tearra Banks, sophomore Brianne Alexander, senior Jennifer Nwokocha and junior Beth Rates – composing five of the team’s top six in both scoring and rebounding.

About the Red Wolves

Arkansas State was the favorite in the Sun Belt Conference’s Preseason Poll after finishing second in the regular-season race each of the past two seasons. The Red Wolves return three starters among 12 letterwinners from last season’s team that posted a 24-11 overall record.

This season, ASU opened with back-to-back wins against Ohio Valley Conference members – at Tennessee Tech (77-55, November 14th) and UT Martin (76-74, November 18th). Senior guard Aundrea Gamble, the SBC’s Preseason Student-Athlete of the Year, is ranked 74th nationally in scoring (17.6 ppg) entering this week’s action.

An Austin Peay Win Would

Be its second win against Arkansas State all time and first win since the 1983-84 season. End its eight-game losing streak. Be its first road win this season. End a 15-game losing streak in road nonconference tilts that dates back to November 1th2, 2013. Be its first win against a Division I opponent this season.

Make head coach David Midlick 3-8 in his first season at Austin Peay and 48-25 in his third season as a head coach overall. Make the Govs 454-659 overall since 1976-77.

The Arkansas State Series

The Series: Arkansas State leads, 7-1
Last Meeting: ASU 79, APSU 69 on November 15th, 2013 in Clarksville. Tiasha Gray scored 19 points and Tearra Banks had a 14-point, 11-rebound outing in the loss.

Broadcast Information

Radio • Governors Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Brian Rives

Lady Govs on the Web

Live Video: www.AStateRedWolves.com
Live APSU Audio: www.LetsGoPeay.com/Listen
Live Statistics: www.PeayStats.com