THE LEAD
CLARKSVILLE – A poor second half start again proved costly as Austin Peay State University women's basketball team fell to Middle Tennessee, 86-55, in nonconference action at the Dunn Center, Monday night.  

WHO GOVERNED
Senior guard Tiasha Gray led Austin Peay in scoring (13), rebounding (7) and assists (3).

HOW IT HAPPENED
Austin Peay led by as many as six points, 10-4, in the opening quarter, but Middle Tennessee closed the frame with a 14-4 burst to lead 18-14 after the first quarter – APSU going 1-for-6 from the floor with three turnovers during that quarter-ending stretch.

Middle Tennessee pushed its lead into double digits for the first time, 34-24, on Edwards three-pointer with 2:37 left in the first half. The Blue Raider lead hit 14 points before Sydney Gooch's putback just before the horn.

The Blue Raiders broke the game open with a 13-0 run over the second half's opening 3:30, pushing its lead to 25 points, 53-28. Four different MT players scored during the game-breaking run.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Tiasha Gray was held without a steal for the first time since Jan. 30, 2014, snapping a streak of 45 consecutive games with at least one steal for the reigning Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year. It was only the 12th steal-less game of her 95-game career.

Tearra Banks went 4-of-6 from the floor, her fourth consecutive game shooting better than 50 percent from the floor. She has made 69 percent (20-of-29) of her shots during the streak, scoring 49 points.

Austin Peay failed to reach double-digit three-point attempts for the first time this season (nine) after previously reaching 17 or more in every game before Monday.

THE FULL RECAP
Austin Peay (2-7) got off to a good start, making four of its first six shots to grab a 10-4 lead at the 5:34 mark of the first quarter. Senior Tiasha Gray had five points to end APSU's game-opening run. But Middle Tennessee closed the period with a 14-4 run to take an 18-14 lead into the first quarter break.

Middle Tennessee (3-3) slowly expanded its lead in the second quarter, finally pushing its advantage to 10 points, 34-24, on Brea Edwards three-pointer with 2:37 left in the half. Austin Peay was able to keep its deficit from growing larger than 14 points, junior Syndey Gooch hitting a layup just before the horn to set a 40-28 MT halftime lead.

But as was the case in its loss at Indiana, Saturday, Austin Peay started the second half slowly while Middle Tennessee broke the game open. The Govs did not convert on their first six possessions while the Blue Raiders went 6-of-11 from the floor in a 13-0 run that pushed the deficit to 25 points, 53-28, less than four minutes into the second half.

Austin Peay was able to close to within 17 points, 57-40, thanks to a 12-4 run highlighted by a pair of three pointers by redshirt freshman Falon Baker. But the Blue Raiders closed the third with a 9-3 run and opened the fourth with a 5-2 burst to put the game out of reach with 8:29 left in the game.

Gray led the Govs with a 13-point, seven-rebound, three-assist outing. However, she was held without a steal for the first time this season, ending a 45-game streak with at least one steal. Gooch and junior Tearra Banks each had nine points.

Edwards, who entered the game as the nation's 12th most prolific scorer, finished with 27 points after scoring 20 in the opening half. Junior Olivia Jones added 15 points.

Austin Peay, which played its final home game of the 2015 calendar year, begins a four-game road trip with a 4 p.m., Saturday contest at Western Kentucky.