Austin Peay (14-10 | 5-8 OVC) vs. Eastern Kentucky (10-14 | 4-9 OVC)
Saturday, February 15th, 2020 | 1:30pm CT
Clarksville, TN | Dunn Center
Clarksville, TN – After creating some space in the Ohio Valley Conference postseason race, the Austin Peay State University (APSU) women’s basketball team will have another chance to do so when they host a 1:30pm, Saturday game in the Dunn Center against Eastern Kentucky, who sits just a game behind the Governors for the eighth and final spot in the OVC Women’s Basketball Championship.
The Governors put a game of separation between themselves and Murray State last time out, and will look to put two games between themselves and the Colonels, Saturday.
Eastern Kentucky has one back-to-back games for the first time in OVC play, and will put that streak to the test against Austin Peay State University as they look to run down the Governors in the OVC standings.
Game sponsor Altra Federal Credit Union will sponsor a pink Govs shirt giveaway in conjunction with Austin Peay’s Breast Cancer Awareness PEAYnk Game.
About the Eastern Kentucky Colonels
After going winless in Ohio Valley Conference play and finishing in last place a season ago, Eastern Kentucky was picked to finish in 12th place again in both the OVC Coaches and SIDs Poll and the OVC Media Poll. But after the first 13 games of the OVC season, the Colonels sit at 4-9 in conference play, having won back-to-back games to move within one game of the final two spots in the OVC Basketball Championship.
Eastern Kentucky is one of the lowest scoring teams in the OVC, averaging just 58.1 points per game this season and 53.8 points per game in conference play — both of which rank 11th in the league. On the defensive end the Colonels have held their opponents to an average of 64.1 points per game this season, which gives them the ninth best scoring margin in the OVC at minus six.
The Colonels sit in the middle of the OVC in three-point shooting, averaging 5.9 made triples per contest. Behind the arc, Eastern Kentucky is led by junior Terri Goodlett, who has made 31 triples this season and is averaging 1.5 per game.
Goodlett also leads the Colonels in scoring, averaging 9.2 points per game, which ranks 27th in the conference. In OVC play, Goodlett is averaging 12.1 points per game, which is good for 10th in the league. Bria Bass is Eastern Kentucky’s second leading scorer, she rounds out the top-30 in the OVC, averaging 8.5 points per game.
Three-time and reigning OVC Newcomer of the Week I’Liyah Green leads Eastern Kentucky in rebounding, averaging 7.4 boards per game, she ranks ninth in the conference.
Series History
This is the 82nd meeting in a series that dates back to 1978; the APSU Governors trail in the all-time series 34-47, but have won each of the last three meetings. On the Govs three-game winning streak against the Colonels, they are winning by an average of 23 points per game.
On the road at McBrayer Arena in Richmond, Kentucky, Austin Peay State University picked up an 80-60 win last time out against Eastern Kentucky, clinching a spot in the 2019 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Championship.
Arielle Gonzalez-Varner led the way for the Governors against the Colonels, shooting 64 percent from the field en route to a game-high 20 points. Gonzalez-Varner also led the way on the glass, grabbing a game-high nine boards.
The duo of Keisha Gregory and Gabby Gregory each connected for a trio of three-pointers en route to 13 points. Keisha Gregory also added four assists and three steals to help led the Governors to the postseason for the fourth-straight season.
Leading the way for Eastern Kentucky, Abby Wright posted 16 points and six rebounds. Shay Solomon chipped in 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists, but the Colonels came up short and dropped their second game of the season against the Govs.
What To Watch For
Once again Austin Peay State University will have a chance to create some space in the postseason race, as Eastern Kentucky sits one game behind the Governors, who are tied for the eighth and final spot in the OVC Basketball Championship.
Nationally, Austin Peay State University ranks 15th in three-point field goals made per game (8.5), 14th in three-point field goals made (205), and seventh in three-point field goals attempted (662).
The Governors committed a season low six turnovers against Murray State, which is the fewest since the APSU Govs committed five turnovers against Southeast Missouri, January 13th, 2007.
The Austin Peay State University defense is averaging 20.8 turnovers forced per game, which ranks 22nd in the country and leads the Ohio Valley Conference.
The Governors lead the OVC with a plus 4.46 turnover margin and are the only team in the conference that has forced more than 460 turnovers this season.
APSU became the third team in program history to make 200-plus threes in a season when they knocked down eight triples last time out against Murray State.
This Austin Peay State University team needs to connect from three-point range just 35 more times to match the single-season team three-point record (241 in 2018-19).
Maggie Knowles is shooting 45.1 percent from three-point range this season, which leads the OVC and ranks 9th in the NCAA. She currently is the Austin Peay State University career three-point percentage leader, shooting 42.2 percent in her career.
APSU Tickets
Austin Peay State University Governors Courtside Seating returns for the 2019-20 season. Fans can contact the APSU 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 Governor athletics, as well as the APSU 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.
