RICHMOND, Ky. - A wounded animal is the most dangerous as Austin Peay State University women's basketball team found out the hard way in a 61-56 loss to last-place Eastern Kentucky in Ohio Valley Conference action at McBrayer Arena.

Austin Peay (7-15, 6-4 OVC) never trailed by more than seven points in the contest, but trailed for 36 minutes of the contest. The Lady Govs scored five consecutive points in the second half to take a two-point, 36-34, lead with 15:12 left. Freshman Shyra Brown extended the lead to four points, 38-34, seconds later.

However, Eastern Kentucky (5-14, 2-8) scored the game's next two baskets to tie the game, 38-38, with 13:01 left and sophomore Shakeyia Colyer's field goal at the 11:47 mark returned the lead to the Lady Colonels possession, 40-38.

The game remained a one possession affair for the next 10 minutes. The Lady Colonels finally gained a two-possession cushion on sophomore Brittany Coles conventional three-point play at the 1:36 mark, which gave EKU a 54-49 lead. Eastern Kentucky made seven of its 12 free throws in the final minute to secure the victory and end its eight-game losing streak.

Eastern Kentucky scored the game's first six points as Austin Peay got off to a slow start offensively, missing its first five shots and committing a turnover. The Lady Govs got on the board courtesy senior Brooke Faulkner's three-point field goal at the 16:51 mark.

The Lady Colonels would lead by no more than five points the half's remainder. Austin Peay gained a brief lead late in the period, scoring three consecutive points at the free-throw line on two different possessions to take a 29-28 lead. Eastern Kentucky wiped that lead away 36 seconds later on senior Cherie White's field goal with 55 seconds left that also set the halftime margin, 30-29.

Senior Dalila Thomas led Austin Peay with 13 points off the bench. Faulkner chipped in 10 points to lead the Lady Govs starting five. Brown scored four points but grabbed a team-best nine rebounds off the bench.

Colyer led Eastern Kentucky with 17 points while also handing out three assists and nabbing four steals. Freshman Marie Carpenter chipped in 14 points. White finished with six points but grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

Austin Peay returns to action with a 4 p.m. (CT), Saturday contest at Morehead State in a game that will be televised by Wazoo Sports Network.

-AP-