Clarksville, TN – It was not the scoring explosion nor the three-point barrage Austin Peay State University (APSU) women’s basketball team displayed in the season opener, tonight the Governors displayed a suffocating full-court press that forced 29 turnovers and led to 18 steals, as the Govs defeated Christian Brothers, 82-62, in the Dunn Center.
It was a quick start for the Governors preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference selection, Arielle Gonzalez-Varner. Gonzalez-Varner went to work in the post, scoring six of the Govs first nine points.
Add three-pointers from Maggie Knowles and Shay-Lee Kirby, and the Governors were off the starting line with an 8-point lead that would not surrender the entire game.
After nailing six three-pointers in the first quarter of the season opener, the Govs showed off a different look in the offense early against Christian Brothers, throwing the ball into the paint and attacking the rim. The Govs scored 12-of-19 first quarter points in the paint, and grabbed five offensive rebounds, which led to six second-chance points.
The Governors bench heated up in the second quarter, as a trio of reserves combined for 16 second-quarter points. Kirby knocked down her second three-pointer of the game in the quarter, and Brianah Ferby added a three-pointer on the way to five points of her own in the quarter. Finally, Kelen Kenol added five points, as the Governors rolled into the halftime break with a 44-26 lead.
The Governors stalled on offense coming out of the locker room, scoring only 14 points in the quarter. However, the Governors forced nine turnovers and had eight takeaways in the quarter, to shutout down the Christian Brother offense, only allowing the Lady Buccaneers to score 13 points in the quarter. The Govs also kept Christian Brothers off the scoreboard, by pulling down eight offensive rebounds; the Lady Buccaneers only had eight total rebounds in the quarter.
The Governors found a little more rhythm in the fourth quarter, knocking down four three-pointers on their way to a 24-point final quarter, and an 82-62 win, to improve to 2-0 on the season. Kenol finished the night with 13 points, a new career high for the junior from Woodbury, Minnesota. Kirby added another 12 points off the bench, as the Governor reserves posted a 49-point effort in the win.
The Difference
Offensive rebounds. The Governors pulled down 21 offensive boards, leading to 22-second chance points. The Lady Buccaneers only had 29 total rebounds as a team, and scored only two points in second-chance opportunities.
APSU Notably
The Governors 19 assists gives them 44 assists in the young season, the Governors are averaging 22 assists heading into the season’s second week.
With 38 points in the paint, the Govs have posted back-to-back 30-plus point games in the paint, and outscored Christian Brothers by 18-points inside tonight.
Through two games the Governors bench is averaging 48.5 points.
Next Up For APSU Women’s Basketball
The Governors will hit the road for their first this season when they make the trip to Champaign, Illinois, for a 7:00pm, Wednesday night tip-off, against the Fighting Illini of Illinois.
