THE LEAD
CLARKSVILLE – A sextet of Austin Peay State University women's basketball players reached double-digit scoring territory in a 97-75 nonconference victory against Trevecca, Monday night at the Dunn Center.
WHO GOVERNED
Leading the Governors group of six was sophomore Brianne Alexander who finished with a career-high 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds. She was an impressive 8-for-10 shooting and added a 6-of-7 effort at the free-throw line. It was her first career 20-point outing.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Austin Peay got off to a quick start, making 10-of-18 (55.6 percent) from the floor in the opening quarter to build a 24-9 lead. The Govs held Trevecca to 2-of-17 (11.7 percent) shooting in the frame.
The Govs extended their lead in the second quarter, winning the frame by a 23-18 margin. The toll of playing three games in four days showed in the third quarter, which it lost 23-18, before rebounding to score 32 points in the fourth quarter.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Austin Peay was three points shy of reaching 100 points, which would have been the first time to reach the century mark since 2002.
Sophomore Sydney Gooch recorded a career-high 12 rebounds in the contest, tying Beth Rates for the team lead with 22 on the season. Gooch also scored seven points off the bench.
Despite committing seven turnovers, senior guard Tiasha Gray totaled 16 points and nine assists. In addition, the Clarksville native is now three steals away from breaking the all-time record at Austin Peay.
THE FULL RECAP
Austin Peay (2-1) started quickly, scoring the game's first nine points in just under four minutes time. The Governors lead reached double-digits for the first time, 20-9, on sophomore Brianne Alexander's layup with 2:10 left in the first. Austin Peay took a 24-9 lead into the first break after shooting 55.6 percent (10-of-18) from the floor while holding Trevecca to 11.7 percent (2-of-17) shooting.
The Govs kept the pressure on for the rest of the half, extend the lead to 20 points just 1:07 into the second quarter on junior Tearra Banks' layup. Austin Peay would carry that 20-point advantage into halftime, leading 47-27.
Trevecca (1-1) did not allow the Austin Peay lead to grow any larger than 21 points during the third quarter and closed to within 13 points, 76-63, thanks to six straight points capped by a Helen Mitchner three-pointer with five minutes left.
Austin Peay head coach David Midlick was forced to put the Govs starters back into the game at that point. That group stemmed the tide finally with a 12-5 run over a two minute span that pushed the lead back to 21 points, 90-69, with 2:27 left. Alexander converted two traditional three-point plays during the run while senior Tiasha Gray added a pair of baskets.
Alexander led the group of six scorers with a career-high 22 points thanks to 8-of-10 shooting from the floor. Gray finished with a 16-point, nine-assist effort. Redshirt freshman Falon Baker added a career-high 16 points. Also reaching double-digit scoring territory were Banks (13), sophomore Madison Rich (12) and junior Beth Rates (10).
Austin Peay dominated the paint by a 46-26 margin over the smaller Trevecca squad. However, they surrendered a 23-16 edge on the offensive glass, resulting in a narrower 22-20 APSU edge in second-chance points.
Mitchner led Trevecca with 17 points. Briana McDonald added 14 points while Trojans leading scorer Sarah Raby was held to 10 points.
Austin Peay gets a two-day break before starting a three-game, five-day road trip with a 6 p.m. (CT), Thursday contest at Miami (Ohio).
