By: Casey Crigger, Austin Peay Athletics Communications Assistant
CLARKSVILLE – Austin Peay State University women's basketball team hosts its only exhibition contest when NAIA foe Tennessee Wesleyan makes the trip for a 7 p.m., Tuesday, tip-off in the Dunn Center.
The Governors only exhibition game will feature free admission, with the Austin Peay ticketing staff on hand to answer any questions regarding 2019-20 ticketing options. The regular-season will tip off with a 5:30, Nov. 5 matchup, in the Dunn Center against Kentucky Wesleyan. The Govs will wrap up a season-opening three-game home stand when Christian Brothers visits for a 7 p.m., Nov. 8 matchup, before hitting the road for the first time the following week.
Scouting Report: Tennessee Wesleyan
Tennessee Wesleyan returns four of five starters from the 2018-19 season, but will be without their leading scorer (17.3 ppg) and rebounder (8.9 rpg), Hunter Simpson, who graduated. Senior Hannah Cherry is the Bulldog's top returning scorer; she posted 9.6 points per game while playing the second most minutes on the team, behind only Simpson. Savannah Atkins is a dangerous three-point weapon for the Bulldogs; the senior-forward hit 60 triples a season ago, while shooting 35.1% from three-point range. All 15 players on the Tennessee Wesleyan roster hail from the Volunteer State.
Series History
The Governors last matchup with Tennessee Wesleyan was a home-and-home series in November 1984. The Govs won the first game in Clarksville, 83-64, before making the trip to Athens 11 days later, winning 69-64.
- Austin Peay vs. Bulldogs All-Time: 5-2
- Record in Clarksville: 3-1
What to watch for…
- Preseason All-OVC selection Arielle Gonzalez-Varner was a force in the post a season ago. The senior from Cincinnati averaged 12.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game and posted the only 30-20 in program, history – 32 points and 23 rebounds vs. Mississippi Valley State, Nov. 19, 2018.
- The 2018-19 Governors broke the Austin Peay team three-point record, hitting 241 triples. This season the Govs return 80% (192) of the made threes from last season.
- The Governors also broke the team record for three-point field goals attempted, firing 743 times from deep, breaking the old record (583) by 160 attempts.
- Last season Maggie Knowles ranked fifth in the OVC – shooting 39.4% from three-point range, good enough for the seventh best season mark in program history. Her 39.4% thee-point percentage and 43 made three-pointers were the third best single season total by an Austin Peay freshman.
- Five new Govs: Redshirt freshman D'Shara Booker, junior college transfers Tahanee Bennell and Alayjah Sherer, and freshmen Ella Sawyer and Shay-Lee Kirby will all make their Austin Peay debuts.
- Australian natives Sawyer and Bennell will be the first foreign-born players to suit up for the Governors since 2008-09.
Media Day Prophecies
Tickets, please
Governors Courtside Seating returns for the 2019-20 season. Fans can contact the APSU Athletics Ticket Office for courtside seating availability and pricing. The VIPeay Hoops Experience, available to Black Tie Monocle Society members and above, also returns for 2019-20 after a successful debut last season. For more information on joining the Governors in the Dunn Center this winter, to secure season tickets or to become involved with the Monocle Society, call 931-221-PEAY.
Govs Online
Check back at LetsGoPeay.com and on Austin Peay's Official Athletics Facebook page often for up-to-date news about all Governor athletics, as well as the Governor women's basketball Twitter page (@AustinPeayWBB). Live stats will be available during the game at PeayStats.com, and all home games and Ohio Valley Conference games can be viewed on the ESPN+ app.
