CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. ? After a promising start, Austin Peay State University women's basketball team saw it fall apart in the second half on the way to a 67-47 loss to Southeast Missouri, Wednesday night, in Ohio Valley Conference action at the Show Me Center.

Austin Peay (5-21, 2-15 OVC) found itself down by only three points, 32-29, at halftime ? largely due to an impressive 47.8 percent shooting performance, their best first-half shooting performance since Dec. 1 at Kennesaw State. However, it was followed by a 17.9 percent second-half shooting performance, their worst shooting performance in any half this season.

Southeast Missouri (20-6, 15-2 OVC) opened the second half with a 17-3 run to lead by 17 points, 49-32, with 12:24 remaining in the game. Austin Peay would stem the tide and keep the lead from reaching 20 points until a pair of Tore Fite free throws with 13 seconds remaining set the final score.

Freshman Ashley Herring led Austin Peay with 11 points. Senior Ashlee McGee added to her league lead in assists dishing out seven assists to go along with eight points.

Crysta Glenn and Ashley Lovelady each had 14 points to lead Southeast Missouri. Tarina Nixon added 11 points and Missy Whitney chipped in 10 points.

Austin Peay returns to action with a 4 p.m., Saturday, contest at Tennessee-Martin.

- AP -