With finals in its rear-view mirror, Austin Peay women's basketball team launches into its four-week Winter Break when it hosts Southern Illinois in a 1 p.m., Saturday contest at the Dunn Center.
The Lady Govs and Salukis will meet for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Austin Peay has won the last two outings, including last season's 71-69 victory that was its first-ever "W" in Carbondale.
In its last outing, Austin Peay defeated NAIA foe Brescia by a 99-63 count, Nov. 6, for its second-straight home win. The victory also snapped Austin Peay's four-game losing streak. Austin Peay owned a 54-23 halftime lead but struggled to extend that advantage in the second half due to 13 turnovers in the frame.
Junior guard Tiasha Gray scored 23 points in her season's shortest outing (26 minutes). Freshman Madison Rich led APSU with 26 points off the bench, her second 20-point outing this season.
On the season, Gray is making a splash in the national rankings as she ranks among the nation's top 50 in steals (2nd, 4.0 pg), assists (9th, 6.5 pg) and scoring (35th, 19.6 ppg). Sophomore center Tearra Banks, who is expected to return to the lineup Saturday after missing one game due to injury, also ranks among the nation's top 200 scorers, her 15.2 points per game ranking 191st nationally.
APSU returns four starters among 10 letterwinners from last season's squad. That group includes the Lady Govs top five in both scoring and rebounding. Despite the large number of returnees, the projected APSU starting five includes one senior, one junior and three sophomores – still a relatively young squad.
THE MORE YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE SALUKIS: Southern Illinois' 4-2 start is rare territory, the four nonconference wins are its most since 2008-09… The Salukis and Lady Govs have two common opponents this season; SIU is 1-1 against those teams – falling to Wright State and defeating Memphis – while APSU is 0-2… Junior center Dyana Pierre, a Preseason All-MVC pick, is averaging a double-double this season (13.2 ppg/10.8 rpg) and has 24 career double-doubles… Sophomore guard Rishonda Napier is averaging a team-best 18.3 points per game (3rd in the Missouri Valley) despite missing most of 2013-14.
LAST SEASON'S MEETING VERSUS SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: Guard Tiasha Gray hit a jumper with 1.5 seconds remaining to give Austin Peay a 71-69 victory at Southern Illinois, Nov. 12, 2013, at SIU Arena. Gray's basket put a period on a game that was a see-saw affair throughout. The two teams battled through 19 ties and 16 lead changes in the contest. Gray led the Lady Govs with a 14-point, 6-assist, 6-steal, 5-rebound performance. Guard Kristen Stainback notched a 13-point outing that included a pair of three-pointers. Cartaesha Macklin led SIU with a game-best 20 points, including a 10-of-11 outing from the free-throw line. Dyana Pierre added 13 points.
AN AUSTIN PEAY WIN WOULD: Give it back-to-back wins for the first time in 2014-15… Be its third-straight home win… Be its third-straight win against Southern Illinois… Improve Daniels' record to 91-163 overall… Make the Lady Govs 444-636 overall since 1976-77.
AN AUSTIN PEAY LOSS WOULD: Keep it from winning back-to-back games… End its two-game home win streak… Level its all-time record against Southern Illinois (3-3)… Drop Daniels' record to 90-164 overall… Make the Lady Govs 443-637 overall since 1976-77.
NEXT TEAM UP
WESTERN KENTUCKY | TUESDAY: Austin Peay plays its final home game of 2014 when it hosts Western Kentucky in a 6 p.m., Tuesday contest. It will be the first time WKU has visited the Dunn Center since the 2005-06 season. The Lady Toppers are off to an 8-2 start, with losses at Mississippi State and at nationally-ranked Louisville the only blemishes on their record. WKU reached the championship game of the Preseason WNIT, falling at Mississippi State. Senior forward Chastity Gooch, older sister of APSU forward Sydney Gooch, was named to the Naismith Award Watch List, Wednesday, and is averaging 17.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game through 10 contests.
