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HomeSportsAustin Peay Lady Govs Basketball renews acquantances with Middle Tennessee Tuesday night

Austin Peay Lady Govs Basketball renews acquantances with Middle Tennessee Tuesday night

Austin Peay Lady Govs vs. Middle Tennessee
Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 | Tipoff: 7:00pm
Murfreesboro, TN | Murphy Center (11,520)

Austin Peay State University Lady GovsClarksville, TN – Austin Peay and Middle Tennessee will meet for the 65th time in a 7:00pm, Tuesday contest at the Murphy Center. The former OVC foes have met annually since the 1976-77 season according to APSU records, including each of the last 10 seasons in non-conference action.

The Blue Raiders have had the best of the series, including five consecutive wins entering this season’s contest. Austin Peay’s last victory in the series came during the 2005-06 season and the Lady Govs seeking its first victory against MTSU during the Daniels Era.

Austin Peay Women's Basketball.
Austin Peay Women's Basketball.

Lady Govs Trends And Notables

After recording a season-high 22 turnovers against Vanderbilt, November 30th, Austin Peay committed just 17 turnovers against UAB – its sixth game of sub-20 turnovers this season… The Lady Govs offense was held to season lows in field goals made (14), attempted (47) and percentage (.298) against UAB… Austin Peay’s defense posted opponent season lows in points (49), field goals made (16), attempted (47) and percentage (.340)… The Lady Govs defense also recorded double-digit steals for the sixth time this season and is now averaging 11.6 steals per game…  Austin Peay recorded 14 offensive rebounds against UAB and scored 12 second-chance points.

It’s The Drought That Kills

During each game of the Lady Govs current five-game losing streak, Austin Peay has suffered through an offensive drought that has cost it the contest. Three times during the streak, Austin Peay was either in the lead or tied in the second half when its shooting woes hit.

As Cold As Ice

Austin Peay may be suffering from shooting droughts during its losing streak, but it’s a small sign of a larger problem for the Lady Govs who enter Tuesday’s game shooting an ice-cold 35.6 percent this season. The Lady Govs are averaging just 20.7 made field goals per game and have seen their scoring average slip to a paltry 59.4 points per game. Currently, the ignominious “record” for lowest field goal percentage in a season is 37.1 percent  held by the 1978-79 squad – the first team whose records are available.

About Middle Tennessee

Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersMiddle Tennessee enters Tuesday’s contest with losses in its last two contests. But those two losses should be taken with a grain of salt as the Blue Raiders lost at nationally-ranked Tennessee (82-43) before narrowly losing at home to Arkansas (59-53). More importantly to Lady Govs fans, Middle Tennessee owns a decisive 74-55 victory against OVC preseason favorite Tennessee Tech this season.

The Blue Raiders are a three-woman operation with Kortni Jones (15.3 ppg), Ebony Rowe (14.1 ppg/10.3 rpg) and Icelyn Elie (12.3 ppg) accounting for nearly 70 percent of the team’s offense (60.1 ppg). Jones has proven particularly dangerous, averaging 3.3 three-pointers per game and making 33.8 percent of her outside tries.

Fast Break Points

Jasmine RaynerSenior guard Whitney Hanley became the 14th Austin Peay women’s basketball player to reach the 1,000-point plateau with her 21-point performance at Lipscomb, November 14th. Her 1,055 career points ranks 13th all-time. She needs 46 points to reach the 12th spot, currently held by Lady Govs head coach Carrie Daniels (1,111 points, 1991-96).

Senior forward Jasmine Rayner has a little more work to do – needing 108 points to reach the 1,000-point mark. At her current pace (7.0 ppg), she will reach the mark in the season’s 22nd game – January 28th vs. Tennessee State.

Meghan BussabargerAustin Peay returns its four leading scorers from last season’s team: Hanley (12.2 ppg), Rayner (10.5 ppg), junior forward Meghan Bussabarger (8.0 ppg) and sophomore guard Nicole Olszewski (8.0 ppg).

Hanley was named to the Preseason All-OVC team after receiving second-team All-OVC honors last season.

Austin Peay is 20-51 (.282) against non-conference teams under head coach Carrie Daniels.

The Lady Govs are 11-24 (.314) in December under Daniels.

An Austin Peay Win Would…

End its current five-game overall losing streak… make it 2-3 away from the Dunn Center this season… end its five-game losing streak to Middle Tennessee (last win, December 28th, 2005)… improve Daniels’ record to 66-100 overall… make the Lady Govs 419-573 overall since 1976-77.

An Austin Peay Loss Would…

Be its sixth consecutive loss after opening the season with consecutive wins… make it 1-4 away from the Dunn Center this season… be its sixth consecutive loss to Middle Tennessee… drop Daniels’ record to 65-101 overall… make the Lady Govs 418-574 overall since 1976-77.

Hanley Heaping On At Charity Stripe

Whitney HanleySenior guard Whitney Hanley enters the week ranked third among OVC players in free-throw percentage (87.9) and has been a much more frequent visitor to the charity stripe. She ranked fifth among OVC players in free throws made (29) and sixth in free throws attempted (33).

Hanley is averaging 4.7 free throw tries per game this season, well above her career average of 1.5 attempts per game entering the season.

Martinez Notches First Double-Double

Leslie MartinezJunior transfer Leslie Martinez became the first Lady Govs player to record a double-double this season, finishing with 10 points and 11 rebounds off the bench against Vanderbilt, November 30th. It was her third 10-point game this season and a season-best rebounding effort.

She followed that outing with nine points and seven rebounds in a start against UAB, December 3rd.

Nabbing Newcomers

Shelby OlszewskiFreshman Shelby Olszewski and junior transfer Leslie Martinez are each ranked among the OVC’s top 10 in steals entering the week. Olszewski is ranked third with 16 steals in six games (2.7 pg) while Martinez has notched 16 steals in seven games (2.3 pg) and is ranked sixth.

The duo is pushing Austin Peay to an 11.6 steals per game average that ranks third among OVC schools. Austin Peay has not averaged more than 10 steals per game since the 1997-98 season.

Lady Govs Turn To Their Guards Againest Blazers

In a rare move, Austin Peay head coach Carrie Daniels started five guards against UAB, December 3rd. In fact, the Lady Govs used a five-guard lineup for the majority of the contest. APSU’s forwards logged just 32 of the team’s 200 minutes.

Starting Five Toss Up

Once again, head coach Carrie Daniels is having difficulty finding a stable, productive starting five. Including her rare five-guard starting lineup against UAB, December 3rd, she has used five different starting lineups in seven games this season. Only two players – freshman Kristen Stainback and sophomore Nicole Olszewski – have started each of the season’s seven games this season.

Potential, But No Consistency

Eight of the 10 Lady Govs who have been on the court this season have scored 10 or more points in a game. Five players reached the mark on opening night (see “Five For Dimes,” below), but since then no more than three have reached double-digit territory in the same game. In addition, only three players have recorded at least 10 points in back-to-back games and senior Whitney Hanley is the only Lady Govs to have done so in three consecutive games – the season’s first three games.

Last Time Out

Austin Peay Lady Govs vs. UAB
Saturday, December 3rd, 2011
Dunn Center, Clarksville, TN.

Kristen StainbackAustin Peay State University women’s basketball team went without a field goal for over eight minutes in the second half and lost a 49-45 non-conference decision to UAB, Saturday night at the Dunn Center.

Neither team led by more than four points over the game’s first 30 minutes with the two teams exchanging the lead eight times.  Austin Peay (2-5) tied the game for the sixth time on freshman Kristen Stainback’s three-pointer with 10:17 remaining.

Shelby OlszewskiUAB (5-2) scored the game’s next 10 points to build a 40-30 lead at the 5:28 mark. Meanwhile, Austin Peay began a fieldgoal drought that lasted nearly eight minutes after Stainback’s shot – missing six shots and committing four turnovers. The Lady
Govs did make all six of their free throws during the stretch and cut the lead to four points, 40-36, with 3:13 remaining.

Austin Peay finally broke through with Shelby Olszewski’s layup at the 2:23 mark and cut the deficit to one point on a Stainback three-pointer 30 seconds later. But that was as close as APSU would get as UAB scored the next three points and made its final four free throws to seal the victory.

Whitney HanleyStainback led all scorers with 15 points and made 4-of-8 from three-point range. Senior Whitney Hanley scored all 11 of her points in the second half and grabbed six rebounds. Junior Leslie Martinez finished with nine points, seven rebounds and
three steals.

LaShaunda Pratt led UAB with 13 points and Karisma Chapman added 12 points. The Blazers won despite being held to a season-low 49 points.

Lady Govs Last Meeting With Middle Tennessee

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
Dunn Center, Clarksville, TN.

Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team surrendered 21 consecutive first half points and could not recover, falling 74-60 to Middle Tennessee in non-conference action, Saturday, at the Dunn Center.

Middle Tennessee (2-0) broke the game open with its 21-0 run in the first part of the opening period. The run turned an 11-7 lead at 16:48 into a 32-7 advantage with 7:32 remaining as Austin Peay went more than seven minutes without a field goal.

The Lady Govs were their own worst enemy during the drought committing 11 turnovers and missing five field goals.

Austin Peay (0-2) recovered from that outburst and scored the game’s next 10 points over the next four minutes, cutting the lead to 15 points, 31-17. Middle Tennessee closed the half with a 9-4 run to take a 41-19 lead into halftime.

The Lady Govs began the second half with an 18-5 run spearheaded by senior Brooke Faulkner and junior Jasmine Rayner each scored eight points. The run put Austin Peay with nine points, 46-37, with 13:14 remaining. However, that was the closest the Lady Govs would get in the game.

Middle Tennessee pushed the lead back to 20 points, 65-45, with back-to-back field goals with 6:06 remaining. Austin Peay would close the game with a 9-3 run to set the final margin.

Junior Whitney Hanley finished with 18 points – 14 in the second half – to lead the Lady Govs. Faulkner added 14 points and Rayner chipped in 12 points.

Ebony Rowe led the Blue Raiders with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Carrie Daniels Show Begins Wednesday

Carrie DanielsThe Carrie Daniels Show begins its 2011-12 run with a 6:00pm, Wednesday, show live from Edwards Steakhouse on Franklin Street in downtown Clarksville.

Hosted by Brian Rives for the fourth consecutive season, the show will air live on WVRY 105.1 FM and be simulcast over the internet at www.LetsGoPeay.com.

Next Game

Lady Govs Head North, Meet Bowling Green

Bowling Green FalconsAustin Peay continues its four-game road trip with a trip to the Buckeye State where they will face Bowling Green in a 7:00pm, Friday contest. It is the return contest from last year’s meeting between the two teams in Clarksville – a contest the Falcons won, 69-42. Bowling Green stands at 4-2 this season and has a four-game win streak entering its Tuesday contest at Youngstown State.

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