THE LEAD
OXFORD, Ohio – For 25 minutes Austin Peay State University women's basketball team had trouble finding the net and it could not recover in a 75-60 nonconference loss to Miami University, Thursday night at Millet Hall.
WHO GOVERNED
Tearra Banks finished with 11 points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes. She jump started the Govs offense with her basket at the 4:44 mark of the third quarter. Banks scored seven points in the game's final 5:55.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Austin Peay struggled to find its range in the first half making just 20 percent (7-of-34) of its shots and trailed by 15 points, 37-22, at the break.
The slow start bled into the second half, the Govs making just eight of its first 39 shots (20.5 percent). Tearra Banks field goal with 4:34 left started a stretch were APSU made six straight shots to close within nine points at the end of the third.
Miami saved its best quarter for the fourth, scoring 25 points to pull away for the win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Tiasha Gray became Austin Peay's career steals leader, passing Kelly Chavez and Tracie Mason-Blair during the course of the contest. She finished the game with three steals for 234 career thefts.
Madison Rich recovered from a scoreless first half to score 13 second half-points, including a pair of three pointers.
In addition to Gray's three steals, Austin Peay was credited with a 16-steal outing, its best outing since nabbing 17 at Eastern Illinois on Feb. 18, 2013.
THE FULL RECAP
Austin Peay (2-2) opened the game with a flourish, or rather sophomore center Brianne Alexander did as she had a steal on the game's opening possession and converted a layup at the other end. She hit a pair of free throws on the Govs next possession to give APSU a 4-0 lead.
Miami (2-1) got on track soon after that open flurry, making 11 of 12 shots to end the first quarter and start the second as it pushed the lead to 18 points, 28-10, with 7:45 left in the half. Baleigh Reid had 10 points during that game-changing run.
The Govs would have an opportunity to climb back into the contest as Miami suddenly went cold after pushing the lead to 18 points. The RedHawks would miss their final five shots of the second quarter and their first seven of the third quarter. But Austin Peay stil could find its shot, missing five shots and committing four turnovers during the same span and trailed 44-22 with 6:24 left in the third.
Austin Peay finally hit its offensive stride 25 minutes into the contest. Banks hit a field goal at the 4:34 mark and the Govs were off to the races. Austin Peay made its next six shots, including a pair of three pointers, to slash the lead to nine points at the end of the third quarter.
Miami recovered in the fourth quarter, scoring the frame's first five points to push its lead back into double digits. Austin Peay made back-to-back shots after that burst to get back within 10 points, 55-44, but would not get any closer.
After shooting just 20.6 percent (7-of-34) in the first half, Austin Peay bounced back to shoot 43.3 percent (13-of-30) in the second half, finishing the game with a season-low 31.3 percent field-goal percentage.
The poor shooting night prevented the Govs from taking advantage of a 26 turnover night by the RedHawks. Austin Peay were credited with 16 steals in the game but could only score 27 points off turnovers.
Senior guard Tiasha Gray had a rough night offensively, scoring a team-best 18 points on 8-of-24 shooting. However, she had three steals and became Austin Peay's career steals leader (244), breaking the 25-year old record held by Tracie Mason-Blair.
Junior center Tearra Banks added 11 points while sophomore guard Madison Rich chipped in 13 points. Both Banks and Rich scored all their points in the second half.
Reid led all scorers with 20 points. Miami's Leah Purvis added 19 points.
Austin Peay continues its three-game road trip with a 1 p.m. (CT), Saturday contest at Wright State.
