NASHVILLE - Austin Peay State University women's basketball team threw away the script from its first two meetings with Morehead State and put together a dominating performance en route to a 78-71 semifinal round victory in the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference Women's Basketball Championship, Friday afternoon at Bridgestone Arena.

In the two regular-season meetings Morehead State (22-10) broke away early to double-digit leads and did not look back. Friday the script was flipped as Austin Peay scored the game's first six points, led by eight at halftime and turned aside a pair of second-half challenges to record the win.

The win was Austin Peay seventh consecutive OVC tournament victory at what is now known as Bridgestone Arena as it improved to 8-1 all-time at the facility. Saturday's championship game appearance will be the fifth time APSU has played for the title at Bridgestone Arena where they have won three of their six tournament titles.

Early on it was Ashley Herring's show as she scored the game's first six points to give APSU a 6-0 lead just 1:36 into the contest. Guards Whitney Hanley and Brooke Faulkner soon got involved and each had a three-pointer over the next three minutes as the lead reached 10 points at the five-minute mark.

Morehead State was able to keep the lead from getting much beyond that, but each time it seemed likely to take the lead Austin Peay had an answer. Tiffanie Stephens' layup at 9:55 moved MSU within one point, but the Lady Govs began to work their post game as Jasmine Rayner scored and Nicole Jamen scored the next five points to push the lead back to six points, 25-19, in just 1:28. The lead would move between those two numbers until settling at eight points, 40-32, at halftime.

Austin Peay (14-17) faced a serious challenge to begin the second half as Morehead State scored the period's first 12 points to take a 44-40 lead at the 16:37 mark. But a determined effort led by Jamen, Herring and Rayner led to the Lady Govs scoring the next seven points to regain the lead, 47-44, just two minutes later.

Faulkner's three pointer with 13:04 remaining gave Austin Peay a 52-49 lead which it would not relinquish. The lead hit 10 points on Hanley's basket with 4:38 left and they would not look back. Austin Peay closed the game by making nine of its 12 free throws in the final 2:25.

Herring led the Lady Govs with a 21-point performance making 6-of-13 from the field and playing 40 minutes despite an ankle injury she suffered Thursday. Rayner added a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double, making 6-of-11 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. Jamen added her own double-double - a 13-point, 15-rebound outing - while Hanley added 16 points, making 6-of-7 from the field.

Austin Peay dominated the boards behind Rayner and Jamen's efforts, posting a 53-44 advantage. The Lady Govs also outshot the Eagles, making 42.6 percent of their shots against MSU's 30.9 percent effort which including a 27.7 percent second-half effort.

Chynna Bozeman, the OVC's "Player of the Year," had a difficult night. She opened with 15 points in the first half but went cold in the second half, making just 3-of-18 from the field, and finished with 27 points.

Austin Peay advances to the OVC championship game where they will meet regular-season champion Eastern Illinois in a 3 p.m., Saturday contest. It is the second consecutive season APSU and EIU will meet for the title, the Lady Govs winning a double-overtime thriller last season.

- AP