CLARKSVILLE – In recent years Austin Peay State University women's basketball has become known for its electric three-point shooting ability, but tonight the Governors attacked the inside of the SIU Edwardsville defense and scored 40 points in the paint on their way to a 66-40 win over the Cougars, Thursday, in the Winfield Dunn Center.
Once again it was D'Shara Booker who led the Austin Peay (11-7, 9-5) offense, the redshirt sophomore went 8-9 from the floor and scored a team-high 16 points in the post. Booker also led the Governors on the glass for the third-straight game, pulling down a team-high 6 rebounds against SIUE (6-15, 3-13)
After trading buckets to start the game, Austin Peay went on a 7-0 run that was capped off with a Shay-Lee Kirby three-pointer to give the Govs an early 9-2 advantage. The Governors then began to establish control of the paint, scoring four-straight points there to close the quarter, but SIUE was able to cut into the deficit and trailed 13-8 after one period.
In the second frame the Governors made it a point to attack the Cougars on the inside, as they scored all 14 of their points that weren't scored at the free-throw in the painted area. After trading baskets to start the second quarter, the Govs embarked on a 10-2 run that saw them stretch their lead to nine for the first time in the contest.
Brandi Ferby started the Governors run by knocking down a pair of free throws, and her twin sister Brianah Ferby ended the run with a fast-break layup to push the lead to 25-16. SIUE was able to stall Austin Peay momentarily, with Allie Treckler knocking down a free throw and Mikayla Kinnard driving for a layup, but the Govs responded and closed the first half on a 5-0 run to take an 11-point advantage into the locker room at the break.
In the second half it was Booker who sparked the offense, scoring six of Austin Peay's first eight points in the third quarter to help the Governors maintain their 11-point lead. After the Cougars cut the lead to nine points with 2:49 left in the frame, Ella Sawyer and Ashlynn Freeman drilled three-pointers on back-to-back possessions push the Govs advantage back to 13 points. Maggie Knowles then closed the third period with a pair of free throws and Austin Peay led 46-31 with 10 minutes left in the contest.
In the fourth period the Governors turned it up a notch on both ends of the floor, outscoring the Cougars, 20-9, in the final ten minutes of the contest. Kelen Kenol worked hard in the post and was rewarded with seven of her nine points coming in the fourth period to lead the Austin Peay offense to the finish line. On the defensive end, it was Freeman, Kirby, and Saywer who all blocked shots to help the Govs hold SIUE to just one field goal in the final period, sealing a 26-point Ohio Valley Conference victory.
The Difference
No surprises here, Austin Peay scored as many points in the paint as SIUE did from everywhere else on the floor.
From the Twitterverse
Notably
- Austin Peay picked up its fifth-straight win against SIUE and extended its longest winning streak against the Cougars in series history; the Govs still trail in the all-time series, 9-14.
- Austin Peay's 26-point win over SIUE marks the Governors biggest win in the 13-year, 23-game series history.
- The Govs recorded 10 steals against SIUE, marking their seventh game this season with double-digit takeaways.
- The Governors forced SIUE to turn the ball over 19 times in the contest, Austin Peay has now forced 18+ turnovers in 11 games this season.
- Austin Peay matched its season-high with 6 blocked shots against the Cougars, led by Ashlynn Freeman, who matched her career-high with a pair of blocks.
- The Govs scored 40 points in the paint, marking the third game this season where Austin Peay has scored at least 40 points in the painted area.
- The Governors bench scored 33 points, that is the eighth time this season and the first time since Jan. 16 that the reserves have posted 30 points.
- Austin Peay shot exactly 45 percent from the floor in the contest, that is only the fourth time this season the Govs have shot 45 percent or better in a single-game.
- The Govs only turned the ball over 13 times against SIUE, that is their third-best single-game mark this season.
- D'Shara Booker led the Governors with 16 points and 6 rebounds, marking the second time this season she has led the team in both statistics in a single-game.
- Booker led the Govs on the glass for the third-straight contest and has now led the team in rebounding a team-best nine times this season.
- Brianah Ferby dished out a team-high 6 assists – one off her career-high – and has now led the Governors in helpers a team-high six times this season.
- With 10 points Brianah Ferby scored in double figures for the fifth-straight contest – the longest such streak of her Austin Peay career.
Quotably, Coach Midlick
Opening remarks… "I thought we did a better job energy wise in the second half. I don't think the energy was always there and I don't want to be coaching effort and energy with two weeks left in the season, that should be a given. We are competing to get to Evansville. Where we want to be is in Evansville and we are trying to play our best basketball at this time. I do think the bench gave us a lift tonight, everyone that came in contributed and I am glad to see we found a real offensive rhythm in the fourth period. I hope that gives some confidence to the ladies."
On his Governors… "I compliment Shy and Bri. I thought Bri was the one that was finally aggressive at the end of the first half and took the ball to the basket some and got us going. I have also got to compliment Ashlynn Freeman. I thought Ash gave us a lift on the defensive end, even though she got out of position some, she is able to make up for it with her athleticism and got some blocks, got an offensive rebound, and gave us a spark on both ends."
On the Govs post play… "We have relied on the three in the past and we are trying to go inside more. I am asking Kelen and Shy to do a lot of stuff that fans don't see as far as defense and rebounding and they don't always get the stats or publicity. They have given really good effort and I am glad to see they are being reward, because they can score around the basket as well."
On the upcoming Senior Day… "Those five have shared a lot of stories and it's such a tough year for a senior. It hasn't been a normal year and we have not spent the same team bonding time together. They are a great group of ladies, they have done everything I have asked of them and I hope that Saturday is special for them, they deserve it to be special."
Up Next
The Governors will play in the Winfield Dunn Center for the final time this season when they host Eastern Illinois for a 1 p.m., Saturday contest. Saturday's tilt against the Panthers will be Senior Day and Austin Peay will honor its five seniors in between the women's and men's contests. Then its back on the road for the Govs, who will travel to Eastern Kentucky for a 4:30 p.m., Monday contest to kick off a season-ending, three-game road trip.
