NASHVILLE - Senior Whitney Hanley scored a career-high 38 points, including 18 in overtime, to lead Austin Peay State University women's basketball team to an 84-83 double overtime victory against Morehead State in the Ohio Valley Conference Women's Basketball Tournament opening round, Wednesday, at Municipal Auditorium.

Eighth-seeded Austin Peay (9-21) won in the tournament's opening round for the second consecutive year and advances to face No. 4 seed Murray State in a noon, Thursday contest.

Hanley's heroics began at the end of regulation as she was fouled driving to the basket with 5.5 seconds remaining and made the two ensuing free throws to tie the game, 61-61. Morehead State had an opportunity to win the game but Almesha Jones' jumper was blocked by freshman Kristen Stainback.

In the first overtime Hanley scored 11 of the Lady Govs 13 points. The two points she didn't score came courtesy freshman Shelby Olszewski's two free throws with 16 seconds left. Morehead State again had the last possession of the period and converted as Linda Dixon hit a three-pointer to tie the game, 74-74, with three seconds left. Austin Peay was unable to get the ball to halfcourt before the horn sounded.

Hanley did the bulk of the work in the second overtime, scoring seven of Austin Peay's 10 points. Her traditional three-point play with 1:31 remaining put Austin Peay ahead, 83-81. Morehead State tied the game with 36 seconds left on Courtney Lumpkin's layup. Sophomore Nicole Olszewski was fouled 35 feet from the basket with 12.8 seconds remaining and made the first of two free throws. Again, Morehead State had the final possession and called timeout to set up their play. However, Terrice Robinson's short jumper hit the front of the rim as the final horn sounded.

Morehead State (10-19) led the entire length of regulation. The Eagles were red hot from the floor in the opening period, making 57.7 percent (15-of-26) of their shots. Morehead State led by as many as 12 points in the opening frame before  settling on an eight-point, 37-29, halftime advantage.

The Eagles pushed their advantage to a game-high 15 points, 54-39, with 9:41 remaining on Courtney Lumpkin's three-pointer. However, Morehead State went cold from that point, going 2-of-14 from the field and 3-of-7 at the free throw line in the final 9:41.

Austin Peay found its stride as Morehead State faltered, closing regulation with a 22-7 run. The Lady Govs made 6-of-10 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free throw line in regulation's final 9:41 to force extra time.

Hanley had nine points in the first half, 11 in the second half, 11 in the first overtime and seven in the second overtime en route to her 38-point outing. She was 15-of-28 from the floor, including a 3-of-6 effort from three-point range, and was 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. Hanley also had seven rebounds, four assists and three steals while playing the entire 50 minutes.

Junior Leslie Martinez added 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Sophomore Kaitlyn Hill added 10 points and eight rebounds. Stainback chipped in 10 points.

Lumpkin led Morehead State with 22 points on 6-of-14 shooting and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. Dixon added 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting.

-AP-