CLARKSVILLE - Austin Peay State University women's basketball team surrendered 21 consecutive first half points and could not recover, falling 74-60 to Middle Tennessee in non-conference action, Saturday, at the Dunn Center.

Middle Tennessee (2-0) broke the game open with its 21-0 run in the first part of the opening period. The run turned an 11-7 lead at 16:48 into a 32-7 advantage with 7:32 remaining as Austin Peay went more than seven minutes without a field goal. The Lady Govs were their own worst enemy during the drought, committing 11 turnovers and missing five field goals.

Austin Peay (0-2) recovered from that outburst and scored the game's next 10 points over the next four minutes, cutting the lead to 15 points, 31-17. Middle Tennessee closed the half with a 9-4 run to take a 41-19 lead into halftime.

The Lady Govs began the second half with an 18-5 run spearheaded by senior Brooke Faulkner and junior Jasmine Rayner each scored eight points. The run put Austin Peay with nine points, 46-37, with 13:14 remaining. However, that was the closest the Lady Govs would get in the game.

Middle Tennessee pushed the lead back to 20 points, 65-45, with back-to-back field goals with 6:06 remaining. Austin Peay would close the game with a 9-3 run to set the final margin.

Junior Whitney Hanley finished with 18 points - 14 in the second half - to lead the Lady Govs. She capped her all-round performance with a team bests in rebounds (five), assists (five) and steals (four). Faulkner added 14 points and Rayner chipped in 12 points.

Austin Peay out-shot Middle Tennessee, 51.2 percent to 46.7 percent, but had 19 fewer field-goal attempts. That discrepancy came courtesy Middle Tennessee's 15-5 advantage in offensive rebounds and a 27-22 margin in turnovers.

Ebony Rowe led the Blue Raiders with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Kortni Jones added 14 points and eight different players scored in the contest.

Austin Peay returns to action with a 5 p.m., Friday contest against Valparaiso in the consolation round of the Preseason Women's NIT hosted by Lamar in Beaumont, Texas.

-AP-