CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? For 34 minutes Austin Peay State University women's basketball team was in control. But it was the final six minutes that proved to be the most important as APSU dropped a 72-67 Ohio Valley Conference decision to Jacksonville State, Saturday night.

The loss was Austin Peay's sixth straight and they fall to 4-9 overall and 1-3 in league play. Jacksonville State snapped a four-game losing streak with the win and improved to 6-8 overall and 3-2 in conference action.

Austin Peay grabbed its largest lead ? 62-54 with 5:57 remaining ? on sophomore Janay Armstrong's field goal. However, it was the last APSU field goal until junior April Thomas' put-back with eight seconds remaining. In the final six minutes, the Lady Govs were 1-of-7 from the field and committed six turnovers.

Meanwhile, Jacksonville State put together an 18-4 game-ending run on its way to the win. Sophomore Jolie Efezokhae had six points to lead the game-winning thrust and her basket with 1:36 remaining put JSU up for good. The Gamecocks were 5-of-10 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line during the final six minutes and picked off five APSU passes.

The first half was more promising for Austin Peay as they led by seven points, 13-6, after freshman Darcie Warner's field goal with 13:47 remaining. Jacksonville State battled back and four minutes later held a one-point advantage, 18-17, with 9:40 remaining. The Lady Govs finished the half with a 6-2 run and led 36-33 at the break.

In the second half, the two teams traded the lead four times in the opening seven minutes. Senior Kellea Reeves' jumper with 13:41 remaining gave Austin Peay a 46-44 lead which they would hold until Efezokhae's field goal with 1:36 left.

Thomas led Austin Peay with a 15-point, 13-rebound performance for her season's second double-double. Freshman Ashley Herring grabbed nine offensive rebounds as part of an eight-point, 12-rebound performance. Armstrong added 10 points and six rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.

JSU's Efezokhae led all scorers with 30 points on 11-of-14 field goal shooting. Freshman Danielle Beneby added 12 points and sophomore Kelsey Jonikin chipped in 10 points.

Austin Peay returns to action when it hosts league-leading Eastern Illinois in a 5:15 p.m., Monday contest, at the Dunn Center.

- AP -