NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? Freshman point guard Emily Pollock scored a career-high 13 points, including 11 in overtime, to lead Austin Peay State University women's basketball team to a 69-65 double-overtime victory against Eastern Illinois in the Ohio Valley Conference Women's Basketball Championship game, Saturday night, at the Sommet Center.

It is the Lady Govs sixth conference tournament crown all time and first since 2004. They also earn the OVC's automatic bid into the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship, which begins March 21.

Austin Peay (17-15) ? the tournament's fifth seed ? got an incredible performance from its freshman guard in the two overtime periods. After falling behind by four points to begin the first overtime, Pollock handed out an assist on sophomore Ashley Herring's jumper. She then stole the ball on the ensuing possession and scored the layup, tying the game at 54-54.

Pollock scored the second overtime's first points, hitting a layup and a three-point field goal from the corner on back-to-back possessions. After a Herring three-pointer pushed the margin to six points, Pollock sank three of four free throws, the final one giving APSU a 10-point lead with 1:05 left, which would seal the victory. Eastern Illinois made a pair of late three-point field goals to narrow the final margin.

On Television
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The women's OVC championship game will be broadcast in its entirety on Charter Sports Southeast at 10 a.m. (CDT). Check your local listings for channel information.

Pollock was named to the all-tournament team, joining teammates senior April Thomas and sophomore Ashley Herring. Thomas finished with 13 points and eight rebounds and was named the tournament's “Most Valuable Player” after scoring 53 points and grabbing 22 rebounds in the tourney's three games. Herring led the Lady Govs in the championship game with 21 points.

Austin Peay first dodged a bullet in the game's opening frame when both Herring and Thomas were on the bench simultaneously with two fouls at the five-minute mark. Eastern Illinois was unable to build on its lead despite APSU's top two scorers sitting on the bench and took a 20-18 lead into halftime.

The game would remain close to begin the second half, with three ties and four lead changes in the opening six minutes. Eastern Illinois (24-9) gained some breathing room courtesy a 9-3 run over the next three minutes. The Panthers got three-point field goals from Ashley Thomas and Megan Edwards. A Rachel Galligan field goal gave EIU its largest lead, 37-31, with 10:48 remaining.

Austin Peay battled back with the game's next six points, getting points from three different players to tie the game, 37-37, with 7:57 left. However, it wasn't until a Pollock layup with 5:29 left that the Lady Govs were able to regain the lead. APSU's lead reached four points with 3:58 left before both teams had trouble finding the basket.

Neither team scored for the next 3:29 until EIU's Lindsey Kluempers made a three-point field goal, cutting the lead to one point. Herring made one of her two free throws at the 25 second mark ? the Lady Govs only free throw made in six tries during regulation's final minute ? setting the lead at two, 48-46. But Eastern Illinois went back to the well and Galligan responded with a layup, tying the game and forcing overtime.

The Lady Govs won despite being out shot (44.8-36.4 percent) and out rebounded (42-39). It was Austin Peay's defense that saved the day, forcing 25 Panthers turnovers and scoring 15 points off those miscues.

Galligan ? who also received all-tournament recognition ? led all scorers with 24 points, making 12-of-15 from the field. She was the Panthers only player to reach double-digit scoring territory.