CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? A pair of four-minute scoring droughts doomed Austin Peay State University women's basketball team as it fell 78-57 to Murray State, Thursday night, in Ohio Valley Conference action at the Dunn Center.

Austin Peay falls to 5-15 overall and 2-9 in conference action, where they are tied for ninth place. Murray State improves to 14-6 overall and 8-4 in league play and remains fourth in the league standings.

The Lady Govs battled through the first half's opening nine minutes, forcing five ties ? including a 14-14 score with 11:05 remaining. However, Murray State scored 11 consecutive points over the next four minutes ? the first of two APSU droughts ? and led 25-14 with 7:05 left. The Racers lead would reach 17 points, 39-22, with 28 seconds remaining before Darcie Warner's field goal set the halftime margin at 15 points, 39-24.

After trading baskets over the second half's first five minutes, Austin Peay used an 11-4 run over nearly five minutes to cut the lead to single-digits, 51-42, with 9:55 remaining. It was the first time the lead had been in single digits since the 5:22 mark of the first half.

The lead would not remain in single digits for long as the Racers scored the games next 17 points over 4:08 to build a 26-point advantage, 68-42, with 5:47 left. The lead would touch 27 points before the Lady Govs whittled it back to 19, 76-57, with 27 seconds left before settling on the final score.

Junior April Thomas and senior Ashlee McGee each had 13 points and seven rebounds to lead the Lady Govs in both categories.

Murray State's Shaleea Petty led all scorers with 17 points. Amber Guffey added 14 points and Alaina Lee chipped in 14 points and eight rebounds. Ashley Hayes joined Lee for the team's rebounding lead with eight caroms.

Murray State won the shooting battle with a 30-of-65 (46.2 percent) effort against Austin Peay's 21-of-62 (33.9 percent) performance. The Racers also won the rebounding battle, 42-40 ? the fourth consecutive game the Lady Govs have lost the rebounding matchup.

Austin Peay returns to action when it hosts Tennessee State in a 5:15 p.m., Saturday, contest at the Dunn Center.

 

- AP -