NASHVILLE – It may not have been the biggest crowd Austin Peay State University women's basketball has faced on the road this season, but it certainly was the loudest, as 3,100 students from the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools were in attendance at the Gentry Center to watch the Governors rout Tennessee State, 87-55, Thursday.
For the first time this season, every Governor that took the court found their way on to the score sheet, with four scoring in double-figures. But the Austin Peay (13-9, 4-7) attack was led by D'Shara Booker, as the redshirt freshman posted a career-high 15 points and matched her career high with nine rebounds.
The Governors kicked the game off with an 8-1 run that started with a Maggie Knowles triple, and ended with Booker's first bucket of the afternoon – a tip in off a missed jumper. But Tennessee State (2-19, 0-11) was able to cut into the Govs lead, pulling within two points with 1:43 left in the quarter.
With 1:13 left in the first, Booker took over; going on a 5-0 run all by herself to wrap up the first quarter and give the Govs a seven-point advantage.
The second quarter was one of the most dominant ten minute stretches that Austin Peay has played all season long. The Governors started the quarter on a 19-0 run, stretching their lead to 28 before the Lady Tigers could find their way onto the scoreboard.
The second quarter saw the Governors knock down four of their nine three-pointers in the contest. Shay-Lee Kirby connected on a pair of three-pointers that bookended triples from Ella Sawyer and Myah LeFlore to give the Govs a 29-point lead at the break.
With 1:07 left in the third quarter, a no-look pass from Tahanee Bennell found Kelen Kenol for wide-open layup, as the Governors extended their lead to 36 – the largest of the day. But Tennessee State scored the final two buckets of the third quarter, as the Governor lead was cut to 32 after three quarters of action.
Just 16 seconds into the final frame, Kasey Kidwell's second three-pointer of the day gave the Governors a 35-point lead – their biggest of the quarter. But the Lady Tigers matched the Govs point-for-point over the final ten minutes, as Austin Peay cruised to a 32-point Ohio Valley Conference win over Tennessee State.
The Difference
Austin Peay shot 45.3 percent from the floor, improving to 6-0 this season when they shoot better than 45 percent in a game. The Govs went 34-of-75 in the contest, and improved to 5-0 this season in games where they make 30-plus field goals.
Notably
- Austin Peay picked up its fifth-straight win over Tennessee State, improving to 36-27 all-time versus the Lady Tigers.
- For the first time this season, every player to take the court for Austin Peay recorded a point and a rebound.
- The Governors 87 points was the most they have scored in Ohio Valley Conference play this season.
- 87 points is the most the Govs have scored in an OVC contest since a 100-point performance against Eastern Kentucky (1/3/19).
- Austin Peay is 6-0 when they score 80 or more points this season.
- The Governors shot better than 45 percent from the floor for the second time in OVC play, they are 6-0 this season when they shoot upwards of 45 percent.
- Austin Peay's 34 made field-goals is their third best single game total this season, the Govs are 5-0 this season when they make more than 30 field-goals in a contest.
- The Governors 17 assists are the most they have dished out since they had 19 assists against Christian Brothers, Nov. 8.
- Austin Peay outrebounded Tennessee State 51-30, plus-21 is the Governors largest rebounding margin of the season.
- The Govs are 8-1 this season when they outrebound their opponent.
- 48 points in the paint is the Governors second-best single-game total this season, the Govs are 5-1 this season when they outscore the opposition in the paint.
- The Govs bench scored a season-high 50 point.
- The Austin Peay bench outscored the Tennessee State reserves by 14, the Govs are 11-5 this season when their bench outscores the opponents.
- D'Shara Booker posted a career-high 15 points and matched her career high with nine rebounds – missing out on her career's first double-double by just one rebound.
- Booker led the Govs in scoring for the first time in her Austin Peay career, she also led the team in rebounding for the fourth time.
- Ella Sawyer dished out four assists to lead the Govs in helpers for the eighth time in her freshman campaign.
- Kasey Kidwell scored 13 points on 100 percent shooting from the floor, it was the first time she had scored in double-figures since the Governors took on Mississippi Valley St., Nov. 18.
- Kelen Kenol scored 10 points, it was her first time in double-figures since Austin Peay played at Alabama A&M, Dec. 14.
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Up Next
The Governors will stay in the Music City for a 3 p.m., Saturday rematch with Belmont at the Curb Event Center. The Bruins beat the Austin Peay in Clarksville two weeks ago, and the Govs will look to return the favor Saturday.
