MOREHEAD, Ky. - Austin Peay State University women's basketball team was unable to keep Morehead State off the free-throw line in the second half and dropped a 70-58 Ohio Valley Conference contest, Saturday night at Johnson Arena.

Austin Peay (7-16, 6-5 OVC) could not hold on to an 11-point first-half lead. The Lady Govs surrendered seven consecutive points to end the opening frame and saw their lead cut to two points, 32-30, at the halftime break.

Morehead State (16-6, 9-2) took control of the game in the second half using a 10-0 burst to build an eight-point, 48-40, lead with 11:23 remaining. Austin Peay ended its scoring drought on junior Jasmine Rayner's free-throw at the 11:02 mark. The Lady Govs then ended a nearly six minute stretch without a field goal courtesy senior Brooke Faulkner's layup that cut the lead to five points, 48-43, with 9:33 left.

But five points was as close at Austin Peay would get in the second half. Morehead State scored 22 points in the final nine minutes, making all 14 of its free-throw attempts.

Morehead State opened the game with a 10-4 run in the game's opening three minutes, making five of its first six shots from the field. Austin Peay responded by scoring 12 of the game's next 14 points to take a 16-12 lead at the 11:08 mark.

The Lady Govs lead would reach 11 points, 28-17, courtesy a 10-0 run that ended with 5:25 remaining in the period. However, Morehead State used a half-ending 7-0 run over the final 2:46 to cut the lead to two points and set up its second-half charge.

Freshman Nicole Olszewski led Austin Peay with 15 points and grabbed six rebounds. Senior Dalila Thomas added 14 points off the bench. Sophomore Meghan Bussabarger recorded her season's third double-double, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Senior Chynna Bozeman led Morehead State with 30 points, making 10-of-16 from the field. Courtney Lumpkin added an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double effort.

Austin Peay returns home for a 5:15 p.m., Thursday contest against UT Martin.

-AP-