JACKSONVILLE, Ala. ? Austin Peay State University women's basketball team rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit to force overtime, but could not overcome the deficit completely in a 75-71 loss at Jacksonville State, Thursday night, in Ohio Valley Conference action at Pete Mathews Coliseum.

Austin Peay (13-13, 9-6 OVC) had its worst first-half shooting performance of the conference slate, making just eight field goals ? a paltry 27.6 percent of its attempts. Only a 13-of-15 (86.7 percent) free-throw performance kept the game from getting out of control as Jacksonville State took a 47-30 lead into the break.

The Lady Govs made the game's first four points to establish their only lead of regulation. However, Jacksonville State promptly score the next five points to take its first lead, 5-4, with 17:16 left. A later 15-4 JSU run just before the half's midpoint established a double-digit lead, 29-15, with 9:30 remaining. And while Austin Peay would cut the lead to six points later in the half Jacksonville State closed the half with a 16-5 run to set the halftime margin.

Jacksonville State (7-19, 4-12) actually built its lead to 18 points, 54-36, early in the second half after a Destiny Lane three-point field goal with 15:34 remaining before Austin Peay began its long haul back. April Thomas carried the Lady Govs back into the contest, scoring 13 of Austin Peay's first 17 points to start the second half. Nine of those points came during APSU's 12-3 run that slashed JSU's lead in half, 57-48, with 9:53 remaining.

The Gamecocks regained their composure and halted the Lady Govs push as Kelsey Johnikin's field goal pushed the lead back to 10 points, 64-54 with 6:15 remaining. Austin Peay scored the game's next nine points, a pair of Nicole Jamen free throws cutting the lead to one point, 64-63, with 1:23 remaining. After a Lane field goal ? which ended a six-minute scoring drought ? moved JSU's lead back to three points, the two teams traded free throws, placing the JSU lead at three points with 19 seconds remaining.

On their final possession of regulation, the Lady Govs got the ball to Ashley Herring who feinted towards the lane before popping back out and firing a 24-foot three-point field goal. It found the bottom of the net, tying the score with five seconds remaining. A final JSU attempt at the horn would rebound harmlessly over the backboard.

Overtime was anticlimactic as neither team could find an offensive rhythm. The Lady Govs ? as they had all game ? suffered from turnover woes, committing six turnovers. Jacksonville State needed just one field goal and five free throws in the extra frame to seal the victory.

Herring finished with 24 points, making 9-of-19 from the field. Thomas recorded her season's 11th double-double with 21 points and 17 rebounds. Austin Peay's offense recovered to shoot 36.2 percent from the field for the contest, but could not overcome 31 turnovers ? one shy of their season high.

Lane, who made her first five field goal attempts, finished with 21 points to lead Jacksonville State. Jolie Efezokhae and Candice Carmine each added 10 points.

With the loss and other OVC action, Austin Peay finds itself in a three-way tie for fourth place ? along with Southeast Missouri and Morehead State ? with three games remaining. The Lady Govs return to action with a 7 p.m., Saturday contest at Tennessee Tech.