CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Austin Peay State University women's basketball team battled back from a 13-point halftime deficit to force overtime, but could not end their losing streak in a 65-56 loss to Samford in Ohio Valley Conference action, Saturday night.
The loss was the Lady Govs sixth straight and 15th in their last 16 games as they fall to 5-18 overall and 2-12 in conference play. Samford won its fifth straight and improved to 18-6 overall and 11-3 in league action.
After making just five field goals in the second half, Samford was perfect from the field in overtime and made 6-of-8 at the free throw line to seal the victory. Austin Peay had plenty of opportunities from the field in the extra frame, but was just 1-of-10 from the field.
Austin Peay had the entire second half to make its charge as Samford could not find its shot and made just five field goals (23.8 percent) the entire half. The Lady Govs halved their halftime deficit in the opening four minutes with an 8-1 run that included four baskets in the paint. The next nine minutes went by with neither team making any offensive headway and Samford leading by nine points, 45-36, with 7:44 remaining.
The Lady Govs offense found its voice over the ensuing four minutes, piecing together an 11-2 run to tie the game, 47-47, with 3:51 left. Sophomore Janay Armstrong carried the Lady Govs with five points during the spurt and senior Kellea Reeves added four points, including the game-tying basket.
Freshman Alex Bivens had an opportunity to give the Lady Govs the lead with nine seconds remaining. She made the first of two free throws to tie the game, but missed the second. Samford turned the ball over on its ensuing possession, but Armstrong's leaning layup at the horn bounced off the rim, sending the game to overtime.
The first half was the same story for Austin Peay as they grabbed the early lead and led by five points, 14-9, with 10:43 remaining. However, as has been the case in recent outings, APSU went nine minutes without a field goal after freshman Ashley Herring's layup at the 11:36 mark. Samford used the offensive drought to put together a 21-2 scoring run to build a 15-point, 32-17, lead with 2:54 remaining. Austin Peay ended its field goal drought with senior Ashlee McGee's jumper with 2:34 remaining and trailed 34-21 at the break.
Reeves led Austin Peay with 15 points on 5-of-9 field-goal shooting. McGee added 14 points and seven rebounds, but had only two assists yet remains atop the OVC's assists list. Armstrong added 11 points and nine rebounds. Austin Peay won the turnover battle, committing only 13 turnovers while forcing 14 Bulldog miscues. The Lady Govs also won the rebounding battle, 41-35, including a 15-5 advantage on the offensive glass.
Samford freshman Emily London led all scorers with 17 points. Taryn Towns added 15 points while Chika Okoli and Alex Munday each added 10 points. The Bulldogs, who made 50 percent (13-of-26) of their first-half field goals, made 21-of-50 (42.0 percent) from the field for the game.
Austin Peay returns to action when it meets Tennessee State in a 7 p.m., Monday, contest in Nashville.
- AP -
