MUNCIE, Ind.– Austin Peay State University women's basketball team could not overcome the Ball State pressure inside, falling 89-57, in a mid-morning matchup on the road.
Austin Peay (7-4) came out strong, keeping the Cardinal offense in check in the first quarter, but struggled with turnovers when Ball State (10-0) cranked up their defensive pressure. Austin Peay had 14 turnovers in the first half, but got a lift from the bench, which boasted 12 points through the first two periods.
Nieja Crawford and Arielle Gonzalez-Varner kick started the Govs offense in the second half as Crawford scored four points, with Gonzalez-Varner pulling down two offensive rebounds.
The Governors worked to close the gap in the third quarter, but injuries and foul trouble forced the Govs out of their normal rotation and deep into their bench. The Cardinals continued to pound the ball inside, but the Governors continued to fight on the boards, pulling down 32 rebounds in the game, scoring 24 points in the paint.
Ball State pulled away in the fourth quarter, but Austin Peay continued to fight, as Shelbe Piggie and Michaela Campbell heated up from three-point territory. Piggie scored seven points in the final period, with Campbell scoring two points, pulling down two rebounds and dishing out two assists to pad her stat line.
Nieja Crawford led the Govs with 11 points off the bench in her season high 19 minutes on the court. Shelbe Piggie finished with nine points and three assists, while Jemiah Harrison scored eight points and pulled down six rebounds.
Game Notes
- The Governors head into conference play with a record of 7-4.
- Crawford led the Govs in scoring (9) for the first time in her career.
- The Govs had 32 rebounds and 11 assists in their final nonconference game.
- Brianne Alexander and Harrison led the team in rebounds with six.
- Gonzalez-Varner led the Govs with three steals.
Up Next
The Governors will have a 10-day break before returning to Clarksville 4:30 p.m., Dec. 28 to open the conference slate against SIUE.
