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APSU Lady Govs Basketball travel to Bowling Green to face Western Kentucky

Austin Peay (2-7) at Western Kentucky (3-2)

Saturday, December 5th, 2015 | 4:00pm CT
Bowling Green, KY  | E.A. Diddle Arena

Austin Peay State University Lady Govs - APSUBowling Green, KY – Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team begins a relatively quiet December slate when it meets Western Kentucky in a 4:00pm, Saturday contest at E.A. Diddle Arena.

The Lady Govs return to action after a four-day break following the end of a whirlwind November schedule.

Austin Peay Women's Basketball are on the road Saturday to play Western Kentucky. (APSU Sports Information)

Austin Peay played nine games during the season’s opening month with no more than a three-day break between games.

The wear-and-tear may have been on display as Austin Peay faded in the second half in each of its the final four games of the month, being outscored 104-59 in the third quarter and 185-115 in the second half.

That second half fade was on display in Monday’s 86-55 loss to Middle Tennessee. Austin Peay trailed by 12 points at halftime but surrendered the second half’s first 13 points and could not recover.

Senior guard Tiasha Gray led the Govs with 13 points and seven rebounds, but was held without a steal for the first time since January 30th, 2014 – ending a streak of 45 consecutive games with a steal.

APSU Tearra BanksJunior center Tearra Banks was held to nine points in Monday’s loss, but was 4-for-6 from the floor, the fifth consecutive game she has shot better than 50 percent from the floor. Sophomore forward Sydney Gooch made her first career start and scored a career-high nine points along with six rebounds.

Western Kentucky, the defending Conference USA regular-season and tournament champion, has started unevenly dropping its season-opener at Ball State before winning its home opener against then No. 16 Louisville. The Hilltoppers then won two games at the Great Alaska Shootout over the Thanksgiving weekend before losing at Mississippi, Wednesday. Saturday’s contest is WKU’s second home contest this season.

Despite being separated by just 60 miles, Austin Peay and Western Kentucky will meet for just the 20th time since 1976-77. The Hilltoppers own a 15-4 lead in the all-time series, including six consecutive wins. Austin Peay’s last victory against Western Kentucky came in the 1982 OVC Women’s Basketball Tournament, a 72-69 decision in what was WKU’s final contest as an OVC member.

The More You Know

Gray Milestone Watch Starts
Senior guard Tiasha Gray became Austin Peay’s all-time steals leader at Miami University, Nov. 19. She also is within sight of the following milestones during her final season in an Austin Peay uniform:APSU Tiasha Gray

OVC Career Steals | Currently t-8th (254)
Next: 255 by Kendra Appling (TSU, 2005-09)

APSU Career Steals | Currently 1st (254)
Previous Record: 243 by Tracie Mason (1987-91)

APSU Career Points | Currently 7th (1,436)
Next: 1,442 by Amanda Behrenbrinker (1994-98)

APSU Career Assists | Currently 4th (398)
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

APSU Brianne AlexanderMidlick inherited an Austin Peay women’s basketball team largely unchanged from its 2014-15 edition. Four starters and 11 letterwinners 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 Hilltoppers

Western Kentucky HilltoppersWestern Kentucky returns home after a three-game road trip that took it to Alaska for two games at the Great Alaska Shootout before a contest at Southeastern Conference foe Mississippi. The Hilltoppers share a common opponent with Austin Peay, both teams losing to Ball State. WKU lost its season-opener, 74-60 in Muncie, with APSU following with its own 72-44 loss in Muncie 10 days later.

Western Kentucky is working around the loss of All-America forward Chastity Gooch and the result is a three-headed beast. Senior guard Kendall Noble, sophomore forward Tashia Brown and sophomore forward Ivy Brown have combined for 38 points, 22 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game this season.

An Austin Peay Win Would

End its six-game losing streak. Be its first road win this season. End a 13-game losing streak in road nonconference tilts that dates back to November 12th, 2013. End a six-game losing streak to Western Kentucky. Be its first win against a Division I opponent this season.

Make head coach David Midlick 3-7 in his first season at Austin Peay and 48-23 in his third season as a head coach overall. Make the Govs 454-657 overall since 1976-77.

Broadcast Information

TV • WKUSPORTS.TV ($)
Play-by-Play: Barry Williams
Analyst: Laurie Idlett

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

Lady Govs on the Web

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

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