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HomeSportsInstant Peay Play: Brianne Alexander’s quick start helps spark APSU Lady Govs...

Instant Peay Play: Brianne Alexander’s quick start helps spark APSU Lady Govs basketball resent surge

Legends Bank, Clarksville TNClarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University women’s basketball player Brianne Alexander may have had to sit out the first half of the season for the Lady Govs basketball team with an injury, but her return to action has helped spark the team to a strong start in Ohio Valley Conference play.

Alexander, a 6-foot-1 freshman center from Smyrna, TN, missed the first 12 games of the regular season after tearing the meniscus in her knee – with the Lady Govs going 3-9 over that stretch.

APSU's Brianne Alexander

“It was tough having to sit on the sidelines early-on in the season,” Alexander said. “I just had to have faith that my time would come and I would have a chance to come back and play at some point this season and help my team.”

That chance would come in the Lady Govs final pre-OVC game of the season at the University of Central Arkansas on December 30th, where Alexander responded with a 13-point, five-rebound effort in just 17 minutes of action.

The result was no surprise to Alexander.

“I worked really hard (to get back on the floor) and knew then I finally got a chance I could bring that effort to the team so it’s no surprise that I’ve gotten off to a good start.”

In the four games since her return to action, the Lady Gov have gone 2-2 – including a 2-1 mark to open OVC play – with Alexander showing little rust in her game in averaging 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds in 21 minutes per game.

“I knew what the coaches wanted from me and what the team expected from me,” she said. “After by sitting and seeing how the team played together it’s been easy to work myself in.”

This is the second time she has had to go through an injury like this, tearing her meniscus as a junior in high school.

“The injury itself was a little different this time from my junior year in high school,” Alexander said. “I knew this time I would have to push myself even harder to get back, because I knew that the team really needed me.”

Despite still working on her game stamina, Alexander has been in the starting lineup the past three games adding another tall presence down low in the post for the Lady Govs.

“I wasn’t expecting to get into the starting lineup this soon, but I was fully prepared,” she said. “I’m probably at 60 or 70 percent with my game stamina, but the trainers have been working with me very hard and they are trying to get me back to where I can last longer out on the floor in games.”

Hopefully, as the Lady Govs continue into the heart of the conference schedule Alexander will continue to build her stamina and playing her way into helping Austin Peay to pick up even more OVC wins.

“It just feels good to be back on the court again,” she said. “It’s also exciting in getting a couple of wins to start conference play. Now I just need to continue to work on my stamina, keep bring intensity, play good defense and rebound the ball.

“If I can do that, then everything else should fall into place.”

Alexander will get a chance to play her first home game as a Lady Gov this week, as Austin Peay hosts Belmont University on January 15th (5:15pm) and Tennessee State University on January 17th (4:30pm) at the Dunn Center in a pair of OVC contests.

Chris Austin
Chris Austinhttp://www.clarksvillesportsnetwork.com
Chris Austin is a graduate of Clarksville High School and Austin Peay State University. Chris is a former Head Softball Coach for APSU, and assistant basketball coach for CHS. Chris has worked at the Leaf-Chronicle, and WJZM News/Talk/Sports radio. Has also worked at the Sports Information Department at APSU, and has covered championship events for the Ohio Valley Conference and NCAA. Chris is an avid sports fan and can be found at most Austin Peay State University sports events.
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