NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? In the city that calls itself Music City, U.S.A., Austin Peay State University women's basketball team saw its starting five piece together a sweet symphony en route to a 90-84 upset of regular-season champion Murray State, Friday afternoon, in the Ohio Valley Conference Women's Basketball Tournament semifinals at the Sommet Center.

Austin Peay (16-15) ? the tournament's fifth seed ? saw each member of its starting five reach double-digit scoring territory, the second consecutive game they have done so. Senior April Thomas scored a career-high 25 points, making 11-of-15 from the field. Junior Nicole Jamen, her front-court partner, added 20 points. The Lady Govs back court was led by sophomore Ashley Herring's 16 points while freshman Whitney Hanley scored 15 points and sophomore Brooke Faulkner chipped in 11 points.

That quintet outpaced Murray State's (22-8) very dangerous trio of seniors Amber Guffey, Paige Guffey and Ashley Hayes. Amber Guffey led all scorers with 35 points, making 16-of-25 from the field. Hayes added 28 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Paige Guffey chipped in 16 points.

After battling to a 39-38 Murray State halftime advantage, the two squads combined for a breakneck pace to open the second half. They combined to score 32 points and made 15 of their 22 field goals in the period's opening 6:24. During that opening stretch, Murray State got back-to-back field goals from Hayes and Amber Guffey to build its largest lead, a three-point, 52-49 advantage with 15:57 remaining. However, Austin Peay got consecutive baskets from Herring and Hanley to retake the lead, 55-52, with 14:25 remaining and would not trail or be tied the game's remainder.

While they would not trail the rest of the way, Austin Peay had to fend off several Murray State charges. Austin Peay's lead reached seven points, 71-64, with 7:11 remaining after a Jamen field goal and Faulkner three-pointer. But Murray State slashed the lead to one point, 74-73, on back-to-back layups by Amber Guffey and five points by Hayes sandwiched a Hanley three-point field goal.

The Lady Govs rebuilt their lead to five points, 80-75, with 1:11 left before the Racers were forced to foul and hope Austin Peay ? which entered the game making just 70 percent of its free throws ? would miss at the line. Austin Peay did not falter at the line. Those free throws extended the lead to eight points, 88-82, with 13 seconds left and sealed the victory.

Austin Peay becomes the first fifth seed to advance to the championship since the current OVC tournament format began in 1997. They will face No. 2 seed Eastern Illinois in a 3 p.m., Saturday, championship contest at the Sommet Center.

Post-Game Notes:

• This will be APSU's first appearance in the OVC championship game since 2004.
• The Lady Govs victory snapped a four-game losing streak in the series.
• The Lady Govs two losses to Murray State this season were by 10 points, 87-77, Jan. 10, in Murray and 18, 94-76, Feb. 7, in Clarksville.
• It is the first time a No. 1 seed has lost to the No. 5 seed since the current tournament format began in 1997.
• The Lady Govs' 90-84 win was their third straight after five consecutive February losses.
• The Lady Govs are now 2-0 in March.
• Austin Peay is now 20-11 all-time in the OVC tournament.
• It was the third time this season?and second straight time? the Lady Govs placed five players in double figures (April Thomas 25, Nicole Jamen 20, Ashley Herring 16, Whitney Hanley 15 and Brooke Faulkner 11).
• It was the first time since the Feb. 19 game at Jacksonville State two Lady Govs scored more than 20 points.
• The Lady Govs scored 52 points in the second half, their first 50-point half since scoring 52 against Southeast Missouri during the 2007 campaign.
• Austin Peay scored 90 points for the first time since 2004-05 season, when the Lady Govs beat Tennessee State, 90-57.
• The 90 points tied APSU's record for most points scored in an OVC tourney contest. APSU defeated UT Martin, 90-60, in first-round 1999-00 play. It also was the most points scored by APSU in an OVC final four tourney game. 
• The two teams combined for the most points in an OVC tourney game since Morehead State defeated Eastern Kentucky, 92-89, in first-round play in the 2001 tournament.