CLARKSVILLE - A short-staffed Austin Peay State University women's basketball team was unable to find a game-tying basket in the final two minutes of a 61-59 Ohio Valley Conference loss to Eastern Kentucky, Monday night at the Dunn Center.

Austin Peay (5-14, 2-4 OVC) held the lead three times in the contest but only for a total of 62 seconds. However, one of those brief leads came with 2:15 remaining when Whitney Hanley's layup gave Austin Peay a 57-56 advantage.  That lead would only last 28 seconds before Eastern Kentucky (9-8, 5-2 OVC) regained the lead on Marie Carpenter's conventional three-point play at the 1:47 mark.

The Lady Govs were their own worst enemy in the final minute-plus. They had five possessions after EKU retook the lead but committed three turnovers and were one-of-two shooting. Hanley was responsible for the lone good shot in that span, her basket moving APSU within two points, 61-59, with 10.9 seconds left.

Austin Peay fouled before the ensuing in-bounds throw could start the clock. Eastern Kentucky's Carla Booth went to the line - where she made both her free throws just 11 seconds prior - and missed both of her attempts. The Lady Govs secured the rebound and Hanley brought the ball up the court. She threw a wild pass toward Nicole Olszewski who was unable to secure the ball as time expired.

The Lady Govs entered Monday's contest with just eight players available due to recent injuries. Austin Peay then ran into significant foul trouble in the first half with Hanley playing just five scoreless minutes and Leslie Martinez managing only 10 scoreless minutes before both were sidelined with two fouls.

Despite missing a pair of its leading scorers, Austin Peay climbed back from an 11-point first-half deficit. The Lady Govs used a 12-2 run late in the half to take a 24-23 lead with 3:42 left - a run spearheaded by Somalia McKenney (5 points) along with Jasmine Rayner, Nicole Olszewski and Shelby Olszewski. Eastern Kentucky closed the period with an 11-3 run and held a 34-27 halftime advantage.

Eastern Kentucky would extend the lead to nine points right out of the halftime break coutesy a Jasmine Stovall layup, but the lead would grow no larger. Austin Peay moved within one point, 38-37, with 13:16 remaining on a McKenney free throw. The Lady Colonels lead was not more than two possessions the game's remainder.

It was a banner night for the Lady Govs three freshman. McKenney, a freshman who had played nine minutes in two previous outings, led the Lady Govs with 14 points and six rebounds. Shelby Olszewski, a freshman who entered the game making just 29 percent of her free throws, converted a school-record 12-of-12 from the stripe and finished with 12 points. Kristen Stainback, the Lady Govs other freshman, made a pair of key second half three-pointers and also scored 12 points.

That trio accounted for 38 of Austin Peay's 59 points. Hanley, who played all 20 second-half minutes, was held to six points to end a streak of five consecutive 20-point outings. Rayner finished with eight points - including her 1,000th career point - and nine rebounds before fouling out.

Austin Peay had a sub-par shooting night, making 29.1 percent (16-of-55) of its shots, but stayed in the contest thanks to an impressive 25-of-29 (86.2 percent) effort from the free-throw line.

Carpenter led Eastern Kentucky with 22 points, 18 of those coming in the opening half. Alex Jones finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds.

Eastern Kentucky did not out-shoot Austin Peay significantly, converting on just 31 percent (18-of-58) of its shots. However, EKU did post a 46-37 rebounding advantage to help limit APSU's offensive opportunities.

Austin Peay begins a two-game road trip with a 4 p.m., Saturday contest a league-leading Eastern Illinois.

-AP-