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HomeSportsAPSU Women's Basketball takes down SIU Edwardsville at the Dunn Center, 74-61

APSU Women’s Basketball takes down SIU Edwardsville at the Dunn Center, 74-61

APSU Women's BasketballClarksville, TN – Before tonight’s game, the Austin Peay State University (APSU) women’s basketball team was averaging 21.1 forced turnovers per game – the 19th best mark in the NCAA – but that number will be on the rise, as a stellar defense effort by the Governors forced 28 turnovers, which led to 37 points; as the Govs fought their way to a 74-61 win over SIU Edwardsville, Thursday, in the Dunn Center.

Austin Peay State University Women's Basketball junior Brandi Ferby scored 18 points including three 3 pointers in win over SIU Edwardsville at the Dunn Center, Thursday. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay State University Women’s Basketball junior Brandi Ferby scored 18 points including three 3 pointers in win over SIU Edwardsville at the Dunn Center, Thursday. (APSU Sports Information)

On the offensive end, Austin Peay State University (12-8, 3-6) worked through Brandi Ferby, who posted a season-high 18 points, and was one-point shy of matching her career high. Ferby also dished out a season high six assists, as the junior from Smyrna, Tennessee, was responsible for 12 more points thanks to her passing.

The Governors set the tone early with their defensive effort, forcing ten SIUE (3-17, 1-8) turnovers in the first ten minutes of action. 11 points off of turnovers, and a pair of Shay-Lee Kirby three-pointers, allowed the Governors to build a two-point advantage at the end of one quarter – despite SIUE shooting 60 percent from the floor in the frame.

The second quarter is when Brandi Ferby did the majority of her damage. With 3:51 left before the half and the Govs trailing by two points, Ferby went on a 9-0 run all by herself. Ferby hit back-to-back-to-back three-pointers, that turned a two-point deficit into a seven-point lead from which the Governors would never look back.

The Cougars answered the Brandi Ferby run with a three-pointer of their own, but a Gabby Gregory triple on the next possession gave the Governors their four three-pointer in five possessions; and after one half of basketball, the Govs held a five-point lead.

With 6:53 left in the third, an Ella Sawyer block and defensive rebounds led to a fast-break layup from Tahanee Bennell, as the Down-Under duo capped off a 5-0 run that gave the Govs a 10-point lead – their biggest of the game. But the Cougars would not go away just yet, as they cut the lead to six before the end of the frame.

In the fourth quarter, it was once again the Governors defense that did the job, forcing SIUE to turn the ball over 11 times. The Govs capitalized on the Cougar turnovers, scoring 15 points off of them, and stretching the lead back to double-digits.

Trailing with less than a minute left in the contest, SIUE began to send the Governors to thre free-throw line, hoping to extend the game. But the Governors were up to the task, knocking down four free-throws in the final sixty seconds to put the game on ice and claim their third win in Ohio Valley Conference play.

The Difference

Turnovers and the subsequent points off of them. SIUE shot 50 percent from the floor and outrebounded Austin Peay State University; but that simply did not matter because the Governors forced turnovers and converted them into points. The Govs forced the Cougars to turn the ball over 28 times, and outscored them 37-5 in points off of turnovers.

APSU Notably

Austin Peay State University picked up its second-straight win over SIU Edwardsville, it is the first time the Govs have won back-to-back games against the Cougars since the 2014 season.

The Governors improved to 6-14 all-time versus SIUE.

Brandi Ferby became the fourth Governor this season to lead the team in points and assists in a single game, joining Tahanee Bennell (vs. Kentucky Wesleyan, vs. Binghamton), Ella Sawyer (vs. Southeast Missouri, at Jacksonville State), and  Arielle Gonzalez-Varner (at Southeast Missouri)

The APSU Govs improved to 5-0 in games where they shot better than 45 percent from the floor.

For the 11th time this season, the Governors made double-digit three-pointers.

Brandi Ferby posted season highs in points (18), assists (5), and three-point field-goals made (3).

Brandi Ferby led the APSU Govs in assists for the fourth-consecutive game.

Scoring 46 points, the Governors bench posted its fourth 40-point performance of the season, and its first since a 49-point outing against Binghamton, December 19th, in the FIU Holiday Hoops Showdown.

The Austin Peay State University’s 37 points off of turnovers was their second-best single-game total this season, behind only a 43 point performance off of turnovers against Evansville, November 21st.

Next Up For APSU Women’s Basketball

The Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team will be back in action when they play a 1:30pm, Saturday game against Eastern Illinois in the Dunn Center. The Panthers are coming off of a 92-87, overtime loss on the road at Murray State.

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