CHARLESTON, Ill. ? Austin Peay State University women's basketball team suffered a seven-minute first-half lapse and could not recover, falling 67-48 at Eastern Illinois, Thursday night, in Ohio Valley Conference road action.
The loss was Austin Peay's fifth straight and 14th in its last 15 games as they dropped to 5-17 overall and 2-11 in league play. Eastern Illinois maintained its second place position, improving to 13-10 overall and 12-3 in conference action.
Eastern Illinois seemingly couldn't miss in the first half, finishing the frame making 14-of-23 (60.9 percent) from the field. Austin Peay stuck close early, matching EIU basket-for-basket and tying the game, 10-10, at the 13:57 mark. However, Panthers damage came over the next seven minutes as they scored 20 consecutive points, including four three-point field goals. Austin Peay didn't help its cause, committing seven turnovers during the same span. The Lady Govs were unable to reduce the deficit further and trailed 40-21 at halftime.
The second half was a series of scoring spurts by each team, but the lead never exceeded 23 points and was not less than 17 points during the period before settling on the final margin.
Senior Ashlee McGee led Austin Peay with 12 points and five assists. After a scoreless first half, sophomore Janay Armstrong finished with six points and added a game-high eight rebounds. Austin Peay finished the game just 18-of-47 (38.3 percent) from the field. The Lady Govs committed 20 turnovers ? leading to 25 EIU points ? and lost the rebounding battle, 28-26.
EIU's Ashley Thomas led all scorers with 19 points off the bench, finishing 6-of-6 from the field, including 5-of-5 from three-point range, and 2-of-2 at the free-throw line. Rachel Galligan ? the league's second-leading scorer ? finished with 14 points and a team-best four rebounds. The Panthers made 22-of-44 (50.0 percent) from the field, including 9-of-19 (47.4 percent) from three-point range.
Austin Peay returns to action with a 5:15 p.m., Saturday, contest against Samford. The Lady Govs encourage fans to “Think Pink” as part of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association effort to increase breast cancer awareness.
- AP -
