Clarksville, TN – Three pointers and forced turnovers, that has been the recipe for success this season for the Austin Peay State University (APSU) women’s basketball team, and it was once again; as the Governors connected 12 times from three-point range and forced 27 Eastern Kentucky turnovers en route to a 69-53 win, Saturday in the Dunn Center.
After both teams went scoreless for the first 2:06 of the contest, it was the three-ball that jump started the Austin Peay State University (15-10, 6-8) offense once again, as Brandi Ferby knocked down the first three of her team high 17 points to get the Govs started.
Two possessions later, Ferby did it again, burying another triple to give the Governors a five-point advantage from which they would never look back.
After knocking down the first two three-pointers, Brandi Ferby found herself assisting on the next one, driving the lane before kicking to Ella Sawyer for a wide-open corner three. The Govs defense took care of things for the next five minutes, holding Eastern Kentucky to just nine points in the first quarter while building a five-point advantage.
With a three-point lead and 6:42 left before the half, the APSU Governors went on their first run of the day – a 9-0 run that took all of 48 seconds. Sawyer started the run with a three-pointer, then the Govs forced a 10-second back court violation to get the ball back, then another three from Sawyer, and finally a Tahanee Bennell triple to cap off the run.
With less than two minutes in the first half, Kasey Kidwell got in on the three-point barrage, stretching the Governors lead to 15 – the biggest of the first half. Eastern Kentucky would score once more before the half, as the Govs carried a 13-point advantage into the break.
The second half started the same way as the first, a three-point from one of the Ferby Twins, but this time it was Brianah Ferby who found the range from deep. After assisting on the Brianah Ferby triple, Arielle Gonzalez-Varner stole the Eastern Kentucky inbound pass and hit a quick layup to give the Govs an 18-point lead.
After a pair of Colonel free throws, it was once again Brandi Ferby’s turn, as she drilled her third triple of the day to give Austin Peay State University a 19-point advantage – the biggest of the game. Over the next five minutes, Eastern Kentucky slow began to chip away at the Govs lead and with 1:15 left in the quarter they had trimmed the lead down to just 11.
In the fourth quarter, it was Maggie Knowles who delivered the final dagger to Eastern Kentucky. Knowles recorded two of her career high five steals in the final ten minutes, before connecting on a pair of three-pointers – the second of which stretched the lead back to 19.
But it was Brandi Ferby who capped off the scoring for the Govs, making her fourth and final three of the day to wrap up a 16-point win and the Governors first back-to-back wins in Ohio Valley Conference play this season.
The Difference
Three-point shooting. The Govs shot 37.5 percent from deep and made 12 three-pointers, while the Colonels shot just 16.7 percent from deep and made just one three. Outscoring a team 36-3 from three-point range is quite a recipe for success, of course, it helps when you also force 27 turnovers.
APSU Notably
Austin Peay State University improved to 35-47 all-time versus Eastern Kentucky.
The Govs extended their winning streak against Eastern Kentucky to five-games, on the streak they are winning by an average of 21.3 points per game.
The Governors picked up back-to-back wins in Ohio Valley Conference play for the first time this season, it was the first time they had won back-to-back games since they won four straight to end nonconference play.
Austin Peay State University made double-digit three-pointers for the ninth time this season, and the fourth time in OVC play.
The APSU Govs improved to 8-1 this season when they make double-digit three-pointers.
Shooting 45.2 percent from the floor, Austin Peay State University improved to 7-0 when they shoot upwards of 45 percent in a game.
The Governors forced 27 Eastern Kentucky turnovers, they are now 7-0 in games where they force 25 or more turnovers.
Brandi Ferby led the Govs with 17 points, it was the first time this season she has led the team in scoring in back-to-back games.
Brandi Ferby matched her career high with four three-pointers for the second-straight game.
Ella Sawyer made a career-high three three-pointers for the fourth time this season, with all four games coming in OVC play.
Arielle Gonzalez-Varner matched her career high with four assists, leading Austin Peay State University in helpers or the fourth time this season.
Maggie Knowles pulled down a season-high six rebounds to lead the APSU Govs on the glass for the third time this season.
Maggie Knowles recorded a career-high five steals.
Brandi and Brianah Ferby both got the starting nod for the Governors, it was the first time they were both in the lineup since an OVC Tournament loss to Tennessee Tech, March 7th, 2019.
Next Up For Austin Peay State University
The Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team will head back on the road for an 11:000am, Thursday game at SIU Edwardsville. After the Govs take on the Cougars, they will head farther north for a 1:00pm, Saturday contest against Eastern Illinois.
