THE LEAD
CLARKSVILLE – Austin Peay State University women's basketball team charged back from a 16-point deficit, but did not score over the final six-plus minutes in a 66-58 Ohio Valley Conference loss to Tennessee State, Thursday night, at the Gentry Center.  

WHO GOVERNED
Junior center Tearra Banks finished with 13 points in 19 minutes, making 4-of-5 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. She also had six rebounds and a blocked shot.  

HOW IT HAPPENED
A turnover-filled first quarter saw Austin Peay commit eight giveaways in its first 13 possessions as it fell behind 12-7 in the opening five minutes. Despite the misfortune, the Govs trailed by just three points, 23-20, at the first break.

The Govs battled through an odd second quarter that saw them miss all nine of their shots from the floor. Their eight points in the frame all came from the free-throw line. Tennessee State was able to expand its lead to 10 points, 38-28, at the halftime break.

Tennessee State opened the third quarter by building its lead to 16 points, 48-32, thanks to a 10-4 run. But Austin Peay countered with the game's next 12 points to start a 17-4 quarter-ending run to slash the deficit to three points, 52-49.

Austin Peay opened the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run and grabbed a four-point lead, 58-54, with 6:19 left. But the Govs would not score again the game's remainder, Tennessee State closing with a 12-0 run to grab the win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Austin Peay committed a season-high 28 turnovers in the contest, Tennessee State scoring 22 points off the miscues, including 13 points off APSU's 11 first-quarter turnovers. Tennessee State was charged with 19 turnovers, Austin Peay picked up 18 points off those giveaways.

The Govs were credited with a season-low seven assists, senior guard Tiasha Gray receiving credit for four assists.

Austin Peay made just 33.3 percent (17-of-51) of its field goals, its lowest shooting percentage since its Nov. 23 contest at Ball State.

The Govs made 18 free throws and now has made 10 or more free throws in four of its last five games.

THE FULL RECAP
Austin Peay (5-12, 3-1 OVC) got off to a slow start and trailed by 10 points, 38-28, at halftime. The Govs slow start included a second quarter that saw it go 0-for-9 from the floor with its eight points all coming at the free throw line.

Tennessee State (8-9, 3-1 OVC) opened the second half with a 10-4 run to extend its lead to 16 points, 48-32, less than five minutes into the third quarter. It would be the Lady Tigers largest lead but Austin Peay started chipping away as junior center Tearra Banks and senior guard Tiasha Gray each hit a pair of free throws on back-to-back possessions.

Those four points kick started a 12-0 APSU burst that needed just 2:30 to slash the lead to four points. Tennessee State would stem the Govs run, but led by just three points, 52-49, at quarter's end.

Austin Peay opened the fourth quarter with a 9-2 run, including seven straight points. Junior forward Beth Rates hit a layup, junior guard April Rivers followed with a three-pointer that gave APSU its first lead and Gray finished the run with a layup to give APSU its largest lead, 58-54, with 6:19 left.

But just as the Govs gained all the momentum, the offense went silent. Austin Peay did not score over the final 6:19, going 0-for-9 from the floor with seven turnovers. Tennessee State closed the game with a 12-0 run to grab the win.

Gray led Austin Peay with a 14-point outing, but struggled through a 4-of-16 shooting night. Banks added 13 points off the bench, making 4-for-5 from the floor. Nine different Govs scored in the contest.

Brianna Lawrence led Tennessee State with 16 points. I'mani Davis added 15 points and Jayda Johnson chipped in 14 points.  

Austin Peay continues its three-game road trip with a 5 p.m., Saturday contest at Belmont.