CHARLESTON, Ill. - For 12 minutes Austin Peay State University women's basketball team kept pace with Ohio Valley Conference leading Eastern Illinois, but it was the final 28 minutes that proved its demise en route to an 80-46 loss, Saturday night, at Lantz Arena.

Austin Peay (5-15, 2-5 OVC) led 26-22 after Nicole Olszewski's three pointer. At that point, the Lady Govs were shooting 47.8 percent (11-of-23) from the floor and had committed just two turnovers.

However, the Lady Govs closed the half making one of their final 12 shots and committing seven turnovers in the final 7:40. Eastern Illinois (14-4, 5-0 OVC) used that drop off to close the period on a 21-2 run and took a 43-28 lead into halftime.

Austin Peay was unable to recover from the poor end to its first half and had a lackluster second half. The Lady Govs suffered through a shooting drought of over six minutes and the Panthers expanded their lead to 32 points with a 13-0 run that put the game out of reach. Austin Peay made only 22.2 percent (6-of-27)  of its shots in the second frame.

Jasmine Rayner led the Lady Govs with 13 points. Whitney Hanley added 11 points - none in the second half. Nicole Olszewski added nine points and added team highs in rebounds (five) and assists (four). No other Lady Govs player had more than three points.

Jordyne Crunk led Eastern Illinois with a game-best 19 points. Ta'Kenya Nixon added 12 points,.

Austin Peay will look to bounce back from its worst conference loss since 1993 when it travels to SIU Edwardsville for a 7 p.m., Monday contest.

-AP-