APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – Behind two season highs, Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team topped UT Martin in a midweek conference showdown, 69-62, Wednesday.
Austin Peay (9-5) hit the ground running, shooting 66.7 percent in the first quarter, outscoring the Skyhawks 24-7.
Brianah Ferby made her presence known early, going 3-5 from the field, racking up eight points in the first quarter and pushing the Govs to a 17-point lead.
The Govs held UT Martin (5-10) to seven points in the first quarter, as the Skyhawks struggled in the early going, missing their first six field goal attempts. UT Martin’s full court trap opened the door for the Govs in the paint, where Austin Peay scored 12 points in the first period.
The Governors kept fresh legs on the court in defensive rotations, but struggled on the offensive end, going nearly 10 minutes without a field goal in the second and third quarters. The Govs continued to fight defensively, forcing six turnovers during their shooting lapse, and held onto a one-point lead going into the final quarter.
The Skyhawks clawed back for their first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter, but Brianne Alexander and Michaela Campbell were determined to not let the game slip away. Campbell hit back-to-back three points shots, returning the lead to Austin Peay, while Alexander scored six points, including two crucial offensive put-back shots, securing the Govs second league win.
Alexander led all scorers with 17 points, nine rebounds and two steals. Campbell added 15 points, shooting 50.0 percent from beyond the arc, while Brianah Ferby continued her freshman campaign with 11 points and five rebounds.
Bri Williams and Keisha Gregory each scored eight points, with Falon Baker adding a season high seven assists.
Game Notes
- Austin Peay improves to 2-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play.
- The Govs recorded 12 assists, Baker dished out a team high seven assists
- Three Governors finished in double figures: Alexander (17), Campbell (15) and Ferby (11).
- Alexander’s 17 points is a season high.
- Campbell’s 15-point performance is a career high.
- The Govs shot 66.7 percent in the opening quarter, the highest percentage of a single quarter this season.
- The Govs’ win comes on head coach David Midlick‘s birthday; the Govs are undefeated when playing on Jan. 3 during the Midlick era.
Catching up with coach David Midlick
Getting the Lead
“A lot of effort and energy. I have been proud of this team’s defense for 90 percent of the year, I don’t doubt our effort on the defensive end and we had a really good first quarter. We pushed the basketball on offense and we shot it well at 66 percent.”
Responding to the Run
“We needed to keep the same effort on defense, and know that our shots will fall if we continue to work defensively. I know we aren’t going to shoot 66 percent for a game, but I told the ladies in the fourth quarter you can’t second guess yourself. If you get an open look you have to knock it down.”
Alexander and Campbell’s Impact
“Bri Alexander did a great job in the post and Michaela hit two big three-point shots when UT Martin had closed it to one-point to stretch the lead back out.”
Next Up for APSU Women’s Basketball
Austin Peay will play the final game of their four-game homestand 4:30pm, Saturday, January 6th against Southeast Missouri.
