THE LEAD
KENNESAW, Ga. – Senior guard Tiasha Gray and junior center Tearra Banks combined for 50 points but Austin Peay State University women's basketball team could not overcome a late Kennesaw State charge in a 73-65 nonconference loss, Saturday, at the Convocation Center.   

WHO GOVERNED
Gray and Banks each had season-best outings in the loss. Gray's 28-point effort tied her season-best set in the season opener against California. Banks' 22 points topped her season-best mark set against Indiana. The duo combined to shoot 21-for-43 from the floor.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The game featured 15 lead changes and nine ties with each team piecing together small runs. Austin Peay held a one-point lead with 3:07 left in the contest after Banks free-throw broke the game's final tie.

Kennesaw State scored the next eight points, including back-to-back three pointers by Aareon Smith, to take the lead for good. It was part of a 13-2 run that gave the Owls the game's only double-digit lead, 73-63, with 27 seconds left.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Gray's 28 points was the bulk of the starting five's 34 points as only sophomore forward Sydney Gooch's nine points added to the total.

Banks' 22 points was the majority of the bench's 31 points as redshirt freshman Falon Baker supplied nine points courtesy a trio of three pointers.

In a game decided by eight points, three-pointers could have been the deciding factor. Kennesaw State made 10 triples – the most by an APSU opponent this season – converting on 47.6 percent of its attempts. Austin Peay was held to 3-for-12 from outside, the three makes coming from Baker's hand.

THE FULL RECAP
Trailing by four points at halftime, Austin Peay (2-9) came out with one of its better third quarter performances this season. The Govs used a season-best 22 points in the third quarter to erase its deficit and build a three-point advantage, 52-49, at quarter's end. The APSU defense held Kennesaw State to 15 points as it forced six turnovers in the frame.

Gray pushed the APSU lead to five points, 54-49, on the first basket of the fourth quarter. The Owls responded with the game's next six points, taking a one-point advantage on Kelly Dulkowski's fast-break layup with 7:17 left.

Austin Peay kept the game close over the next four minutes, tying the game twice as Gray hit a pair of baskets. Junior center Tearra Banks broke the final tie when she converted one of two from the free-throw line to give APSU a 61-60 lead with 3:07 remaining.

Kennesaw State (4-6), or rather Aareon Smith, broke the tie with eight straight points. Smith hit a pair of three pointers then a pair of free throws to give the Owls a 68-61 lead at the 1:22 mark. It was part of a larger 13-2 run that broke the game open.

Austin Peay scored the game's first five points only to watch Kennesaw State respond with a 9-2 run for the game's first lead change. It set the tone for a game that featured nine ties and 15 lead changes, including seven first half lead changes.

Gray tied a season-best with 28 points, making 12-of-27 from the floor as she made three field goals in each period. Banks' 22-point outing came via a 9-for-16 shooting performance. However, only two other players scored in the contest – sophomore forward Sydney Gooch (six points) and redshirt freshman Falon Baker (nine points).

Smith led Kennesaw State with 23 points off the bench as she made 5-of-8 from three-point range. The Owls converted 10-of-21 (47.6 percent) from outside the arc, tying the season high by an APSU opponent for three-pointers made.  Kelly Dulkoski added 18 points and four three-pointers made.

Austin Peay continues its four-game road trip with an 11:30 a.m., Wednesday contest at Arkansas State.