APSU Women’s Basketball
Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team closed within a possession in the game’s final minute but two key turnovers derailed a come-back bid in a 71-66 loss to Eastern Illinois, Thursday night, in Ohio Valley Conference action at the Dunn Center.
Austin Peay (12-17, 11-6 OVC) used six consecutive points to move within three points with 30.9 seconds remaining. However, the Lady Govs committed two turnovers on their final three possessions while the Panthers secured the win by making all four of their free throws in the same span.
Eastern Illinois (17-11, 12-5) took control of the game with a 17-2 burst that began with 3:40 remaining in the first half and ended at the 3:01 mark of the second half. The Panthers used a 10-2 first-half ending run to take a 36-29 lead into halftime. Eastern Illinois returned from the break to score the second half’s first seven points to build a 14-point, 43-29 lead – its largest of the game.
Austin Peay closed within four points, 47-43, at the 11:04 mark of the second half after scoring seven straight points including three-point field goals by senior Brooke Faulkner and junior Whitney Hanley. But Eastern Illinois responded with the next eight points in less than two minutes.
Eastern Illinois opened the game with a 12-2 run in the opening four minutes. The Lady Govs fought back and took their only lead of the game 27-26 at the 3:40 remaining in the period.
Faulkner scored 16 points to lead the Lady Govs for the second consecutive game. Junior Jasmine Rayner recorded her season’s fifth double-double with an 11-point, 13-rebound performance. Freshman Nicole Olszewski added 14 points and junior Whitney Hanley scored 10 points off the bench.
Eastern Illinois sophomore Mariah King led all scorers with 18 points. Sophomore Kelsey Wyss added 16 points and sophomore Sydney Mitchell chipped in 10 points.
Austin Peay closes out its regular-season schedule with a 5:15pm, Saturday contest against Southeast Missouri.
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