Austin Peay (10-7 | 1-5 OVC) vs. Tennessee (2-14 | 0-6 OVC)
Thursday, January 23rd, 2020 | 5:30pm CT
Clarksville, TN | Dunn Center
Clarksville, TN – For the first time in 19 days, the Austin Peay State University (APSU) women’s basketball team will take the court at the Dunn Center, when they welcome Tennessee State for a 5:30pm, Thursday, matchup that will kick off a four-game, Ohio Valley Conference home stand for the Governors.
Austin Peay State University (10-7, 1-5) has been good at home this season, going 4-2 in games played on Dave Loos Court.
The Governors average 78.2 points and 11.8 made three-pointers in games played at home, both of which are higher than the Govs season averages of 67.9 points and 8.6 made three-pointers per game.
Thursday’s game will feature a Governor bobblehead and College of Business Monocles Up sweatshirt giveaway. It’s also Throwback Thursday; tickets can be purchased in advance at a discount and to guarantee your bobblehead by visiting www.letsgopeay.com/buytickets and entering the promo code TBT at checkout.
About the Tennessee State Lady Tigers
After finishing in 11th place in the Ohio Valley Conference a season ago, Tennessee State was tabbed to finish there again in Coaches and SID Poll and the Media Poll. One-third of the way through the OVC season, the Lady Tigers sit in 12th place in the conference, with a 2-14 record and an 0-6 record in league play.
Junior-guard Taylor Roberts, who is averaging 13.9 points per game, has led Tennessee State this season. Roberts is shooting 41.4 percent from the floor, which is the 15th best field goal percentage in the league. She also ranks third in the OVC, shooting 86 percent when sher gets to the free-throw line.
Tennessee State sits in 10th place in the OVC, averaging 59.6 points per game; the Lady Tigers also allow 75.3 points per game, which ranks last in the league. Tennessee State ranks at the bottom of the OVC with a minus 15.8 scoring margin this season.
Averaging 10.4 steals per game, the Lady Tigers rank second in the OVC, and are one of four teams in the league that averages double-digit steals per game. In the OVC, Tennessee State has three players in the top-12 in the league in steals per game: Jaden Wrightsell (8th – 1.9), Jazmine Young (11th – 1.8), and Taylor Roberts (12th – 1.7).
Tennessee State does not shot the three-point shot often, and when they do, they struggle to convert from behind the arc. The Lady Tigers have attempted an OVC-low 246 three-pointers, and have only connected on 66 triples. In comparison, the Governors lead the OVC in three-pointers attempted and made, having attempted 126 more three-pointers and made 81 more triples than the Lady Tigers.
Series History
This is the 62nd meeting in a series that dates back to 1980; the Govs lead the all-time series 34-27, and have won the last three matchups.
Senior Keisha Gregory, who scored in double-figures for the ninth consecutive game, led the Governors. Gregory posted a double-double, scoring a game-high 23 points and pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds. Gregory shot 69 percent from the floor to lead the Governors to a 27 victory over the Lady Tigers.
Brandi Ferby added 11 points and dished out a game-high four points for the Govs. While Nieja Crawford was the final Governor in double-figures, adding another, ten points and six rebounds.
For the Tennessee State Lady Tigers, senior Tia Wooten led the way with 14 points and four rebounds.
However, the APSU Governors kept Wooten in check, forcing her to turn the ball over a game-high seven times.
What to Watch For
Austin Peay State University leads the OVC in three-point field goals made (147) and three-pointers attempted (465). Tennessee State has attempted (246) the fewest three-pointers in the OVC, and have made (66) the second fewest in the league.
Nationally, the Govs rank 20th in three-point field goals made per game (8.6).
The APSU Govs have deployed a full-court press this season that is forcing 20.6 turnovers per game. That ranks 28th in the NCAA and leads the OVC.
The Governors rank third in the OVC with a plus 3.41 turnover margin and are the only team in the conference that averages 20 or more forced turnovers per game.
Sophomore Maggie Knowles connected from three-point range five times against UT Martin, it was the fourth time this season she has hit at least four triples in a contest.
In OVC play, Ella Sawyer is tied for the freshman lead in scoring, averaging 10. 8 points per game.
The APSU Governors are one of two teams (Southeast Missouri) in the OVC that has a positive scoring margin (+0.5), rebounding margin (+0.5), and turnover margin (+3.41).
Austin Peay State University is looking to pick up its fourth consecutive win over Tennessee State and its first OVC win in the Dunn Center this season.
Tickets
Governors Courtside Seating returns for the 2019-20 season. Fans can contact the Austin Peay State University Athletics Ticket Office for courtside seating availability and pricing. The VIPeay Hoops Experience, available to Black Tie Monocle Society members and above, also returns for 2019-20 after a successful debut last season.
For more information on joining the Governors in the Dunn Center this winter, to secure season tickets or to become involved with the Monocle Society, call 931.221.PEAY. You can also purchase tickets online at www.LetsGoPeay.com/buytickets; be sure to access the new 360-degree view of the Dunn Center when purchasing tickets.
Austin Peay State University Online
Check back at LetsGoPeay.com and on Austin Peay State University’s Official Athletics Facebook page often for up-to-date news about all APSU Governor athletics, as well as the Governor women’s basketball Twitter page (@AustinPeayWBB). Live stats will be available during the game at PeayStats.com, and all home games and Ohio Valley Conference games can be viewed on the ESPN+ app.
