THE LEAD
CLARKSVILLE – Junior center Tearra Banks scored 21 points, including 13 in the second half, but Austin Peay State University women's basketball team could not solve its road woes in a 94-75 Ohio Valley Conference loss to SIUE, Wednesday afternoon, at the Vadalabene Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED
SIUE never trailed in the contest, scoring the first five points of both the first and third quarters to set the tone in each half. The Cougars kept Austin Peay at bay thanks to a three-point barrage that saw them make 13-of-18 from the arc, including sophomore guard Sidney Smith's school-record eight triples.

Austin Peay's offense hit its stride in the second half, making 55.6 percent (15-of-27) of its shots in the frame. However, the Govs were unable to get a defensive stop as the Cougars converted on 55.2 percent (16-of-29) of their shots in the half.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Banks topped the 20-point mark for the fourth time this season, but for the first time since the Belmont contest, Jan. 16. Her 10 field goals made will help her meet the NCAA minimum for field goal percentage when the rankings come out in the morning.

Gray had a tough day shooting, making just 3-of-11 from the floor, but was 6-of-6 at the free-throw line to finish with 12 points – her 35th consecutive double-digit scoring outing. She also was credited with 10 assists for her 11th career double-double. It was her fourth double-digit assist outing this season.

One game after grabbing a season-high 13 rebounds, junior forward Beth Rates decidedly was a scoring threat against SIUE, finishing with 15 points -- her fifth double-digit scoring effort this season. However, she was unable to corral a rebound in the contest.

THE FULL RECAP
SIUE (15-11, 10-3 OVC) never trailed in the contest, scoring the game's first five points to set the tone for the afternoon. Late in the quarter, sophomore guard Sidney Smith hit a three-pointer on three straight Cougar possessions, pushing the lead to 10 points, 23-13, with 1:03 remaining.

Austin Peay (8-19, 6-8 OVC) kept the deficit from growing larger, trailing by nine at the end of the first, and traded baskets with SIUE for the entire second frame. The Govs trailed by 10 points, 45-35, at halftime.

The Cougars scored the first five points of the third, including another Smith three pointer, to push its lead to 15 points, 50-35, at the 7:56 mark. Austin Peay's offense then started finding its mark, particularly when Banks scored on three straight possessions, but the Govs could not get the defensive stop they needed and were unable to trim their deficit the game's remainder.

Banks 21-point outing came on 10-of-16 shooting. The junior center made just 1-of-7 from the floor in the first quarter but made each of her final nine shots. Junior forward Beth Rates chipped in 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting.

Senior guard Tiasha Gray notched her 11th career double-double with a 12-point, 10-assist performance. It was her 35th consecutive double-digit scoring effort.

Senior guard Shronda Butts led SIUE with a game-high 30 points and added 10 assists for her own double-double. Smith added a career-high 24 points, setting the SIUE record with eight three-pointers made in the game.

Austin Peay returns to Clarksville for a 4 p.m., Saturday OVC contest against Murray State. The first game of a two-game, season-ending homestand.