THE LEAD
MUNCIE, Ind. – Austin Peay State University women's basketball team saw its shooting struggles continue in a road-trip ending 72-44 loss at Ball State, Saturday, at Worthen Arena.  

WHO GOVERNED
Senior guard Tiasha Gray was the only Govs shooter to reach double-digit scoring territory, finishing with 14 points. She also had five assists and moved past Ashley Haynes (2002-06) for fourth place on APSU's career assists list with 389 career helpers.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Austin Peay opened with the game's first six points as Gray hit a pair of three pointers. The Govs held on to that advantage until the 4:40 mark when Nathalie Fontaine hit a jumper to give Ball State its first lead, 9-8.

The Govs made just three field goals in a seven-point second quarter that allowed the Cardinals to take control, leading by as many as 11 points before settling on a nine-point, 31-22 halftime lead.

Ball State scored the second half's first 13 points to break the game open, winning the quarter by a 28-12 margin, en route to the win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Austin Peay shot season-low percentages in all three shooting categories – field goals (27.8 percent), three-point field goals (15.8) and free throws (52.4).

After Gray's two three-pointers in the opening 2:05, Austin Peay was 1-of-16 from outside the arc the game's remainder.

The Ball State full-court press took its toll in other ways, forcing the Govs into a season-high 21 turnovers.

THE FULL RECAP
Austin Peay (2-4) got off to a good start as senior guard Tiasha Gray hit a pair of three pointers in the opening 2:05 to give it a 6-0 lead. The Govs nursed that lead for the next four minutes, surrendering the lead when Ball State's Nathalie Fontaine hit a layup with 4:40 remaining in the first quarter for a 9-8 advantage.

The basket was part of a Ball State (2-1) 8-0 run that saw it build a five-point advantage with two minutes remaining. The Cardinals lead would reach six points before settling to three points, 18-15, at the quarter break.

The Govs shooting woes dominated the second quarter as it made just three field goals as part of a season-low seven-point frame. Austin Peay's troubles helped Ball State build its first double-digit lead, 28-18, at the 4:28 mark. Gray would hit a jumper for the quarter's final points to bring the deficit back to nine points, 31-22, at halftime.

Ball State broke the game open in the third quarter. The Cardinals scored the second half's first 13 points before sophomore guard Madison Rich's two free throws with 4:34 remaining. The Govs didn't score their first field goal until junior center Tearra Banks hit a layup with 3:35 left. Still, Ball State routed Austin Peay by a 28-12 margin in the quarter and didn't relinquish control in the fourth.

Gray led Austin Peay with a 14-point outing, adding five rebounds and five assists. The handful of assists allowed Gray to pass Ashley Haynes for fourth on APSU's career assists list.

Banks, who suffered an injury scare late in the second quarter but returned in the second half, finished with eight points. Junior forward Beth Rates added a team-best nine rebounds.

Fontaine paced Ball State with a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double performance. Moriah Monaco added a team-leading 16 points. Jill Morrison hit four three-pointers as part of a 14-point outing.

Austin Peay takes a short break for the Thanksgiving holiday before resuming its five-game road trip with a noon, Friday contest against Vanderbilt in Nashville.