GEORGETOWN, Ky. – Austin Peay State University's women's basketball took down Southeastern Conference opponent, Kentucky, 68-63, and Anala Nelson scored a career-high 21 points, Tuesday, on the Georgetown College campus. 

The Governors last win against an SEC opponent win was Dec. 16, 1997, when they defeated Georgia, 71-66, in Athens. 

The first quarter saw four of the games five ties. The Governors and the Wildcats were tied at 8-8, but a free-throw by Nelson gave the Governors the lead and they never trailed the remainder of the game. Cur'Tiera Haywood's five points in the last minute of the quarter gave APSU four-point, 14-10, lead. 

A three-pointer in the first 10 seconds of the second quarter by Alyssa Hargrove followed by two field-goals by Nelson gave the Governors an 11 point, 21-10, lead. The Wildcats continued to battle back throughout the quarter as they went on 8-2 run to cut their deficit down to two points to end the first half with the Govs leading 27-25.

APSU outscored the Wildcats by eight points in the third quarter. Nelson set the pace for the Governors early on with a field-goal off of a turnover. The Governors went on a 17-13 to end the third quarter leading by 10, 51-41.

A three-pointer in the first 20 seconds of the fourth quarter from Haywood gave the Governors a 13 point lead which their largest lead of the game. The Wildcats attempted to comeback, after a layup by Jenkins cut their deficit back to two points. The Governors took back control by going on a 5-2 scoring run to win the game 68-63.

Nelson scored a team and career-high 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Haywood had a season-high 15 points and matched her career-high of four assists. 

The Difference 

Field-goal percentage. The Governors made 53 percent (27-of-51) of their shots taken compared to the Wildcats 31 percent (22-of-70). 

Inside the Box Score

• Nelson had a career-high in both points and free-throws with 21 and 7, respectively.
• Nelson's 21 points are the highest by a Gov this season and are the most by a Gov since Shamarre Hale's 23 against Eastern Kentucky, on March 5, 2023
• Haywood scored a season-high 15 points, had a 60.0 field-goal percentage (6-of-10), and matched her career-high four assists.
• Sandra Lin had season-high points (9), assists (6), and steals (3). 

Up Next

The Govs will travel to Indianapolis, Indiana where they will face Butler for a 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14 game. After this, they continue their away game stretch as they head to Cleveland, Ohio to play in the Cleveland State Thanksgiving Tournament, Nov. 23, 24, and 25.