MURRAY, Ky. - Austin Peay State University women's basketball team ended an eight-game losing streak with an impressive 85-72 Ohio Valley Conference victory against Murray State, Monday night at the CFSB Center.

Austin Peay (6-20, 3-10 OVC) scored a season-high 85 points thanks to a 53.8 percent (35-of-65) shooting effort that also was a season-best. The Lady Govs also were red-hot from outside, making 64.3 percent (9-of-14) of their three-pointers. Austin Peay also recorded a season-high in assists (20).

Leading by five points at halftime, Austin Peay broke the game open with a 22-6 run over a span of 5:30. Leslie Martinez sparked the outburst with back-to-back three-pointers. However, it was Kaitlyn Hill that did the heavy lifting with eight points, all in the paint, midway through the run. Martinez and Whitney Hanley ended the run with back-to-back jumpers and the Lady Govs led by 19 points, 66-47, with 13:13 left.

Murray State (11-15, 7-6 OVC) attempted to charge back after the Austin Peay rally. The Racers scored seven consecutive points and cut the lead to 13 points, 70-57, with 9:32 remaining but would not get any closer the game's remainder.

The Racers made the game's first basket - a three-pointer by Kayla Lowe - and led until the Lady Govs Shelby Olszewski tied the game with her own three-point at the 18:07 mark. Thirty seconds later Martinez hit her first three-pointer to give Austin Peay the lead and they would not trail again in the game.

Austin Peay's guards led the charge in the opening half as both Hill and Meghan Bussabarger sat most of the frame with foul trouble. Still the Lady Govs simply outshot the host Racers to build a five-point, 42-37, halftime advantage. Austin Peay's guards combined to make 11 of their 21 shots (52.3 percent) in the opening period to lead a 47.2 percent (17-of-36) shooting effort. Murray State could not keep pace, making only 36.4 percent (13-of-33) of its shots.

The second half was the Hill show as the junior center scored all 19 of her points in the frame, going 8-of-12 from the floor and adding a 3-of-5 effort from the free-throw line. Hanley (12 points) and Martinez (eight) aided their teammate in the period as Austin Peay solidified its lead.

Hanley led all scorers with 22 points, making 9-of-17 from the floor. Martinez added 15 points and posted team highs in both rebounds (8) and assists (6). Shelby Olszewski chipped in 11 points and five assists.

Lowe led Murray State with 21 points, converting 6-of-12 from three-point range. Erica Burgess added 19 points.

Austin Peay, which moved back into a tie for ninth place after Southeast Missouri lost Monday, returns to action when it hosts Morehead State in a 5:15 p.m., Saturday OVC contest at the Dunn Center.

-AP-