CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Cur'Tiera Haywood scored a season-high 18 points as Austin Peay State University women's basketball team picked up its fourth win of the season in a 72-64 win against Fisk, Thursday, on Gary Mathews Court at F&M Bank Arena.
Austin Peay (4-6) opened the game with a three-pointer by Haywood 27 seconds into the first quarter. This began a Governors' 8-0 run as Fisk did not score until a layup from the paint by Maya Buckhanon at just under the five-minute mark, making the score 8-2. The Govs went on to make three of their next six shots, giving them their largest lead of the quarter at 14-2. Fisk responded with a 5-2 run to end the quarter with the Govs leading by nine at 16-7.
Fisk battled back from their early deficit in the second quarter as they scored 22 points with a 61.6 field-goal percentage, which was their highest of the game. The Bulldogs opened the second frame on a 13-1 run, which tied the game at 20-20 with 4:42 remaining in the quarter. Two made free throws by Buckhanon and a jump shot from the paint by Fisk's Liz Gibbs gave the Govs their largest deficit of the half at 24-20. Austin Peay ended its scoring drought of five and a half minutes with another three-pointer shot by Haywood and a layup by Shamarre Hale gave the Govs the lead again, 25-24. Two more made free throws by Buckhanon and a three-point jumper by Gibbs gave the Bulldogs the lead again at 29-25 headed into halftime.
The third quarter saw two ties and four lead changes as both teams each scored 21 points in the quarter. Austin Peay went on a 5-3 run, tying the game at 31-31. Two free throws by Zip Davis and a three-pointer from A'Niya Young gave Fisk the lead by five at 36-31. Both teams went back-and-forth until a fast break layup from a Fisk turnover by Gabby Zapata Smalls tied the game again at 38-38. Another three-pointer by Haywood briefly gave back the lead to the Govs; however, a layup from Jayla Bibbs began Fisk's 8-5 run, giving the Bulldogs a 50-46 lead headed into the final quarter.
Austin Peay scored 26 points in the final quarter of the game compared to the Bulldog's 14. A layup by Sandra Lin followed by made free throws from her and Anala Nelson put the Govs back in the lead at 51-50 with nine minutes remaining. Both teams were scoreless for four minutes until Buckhanon made a free throw, tying the game at 51-51. Abby Cater made a layup in the paint and drew a foul from Bibbs, sending Cater to the charity stripe, making her one attempted shot and giving Austin Peay the lead by three at 54-51 with 5:25 left on the clock. Austin Peay went on a 14-6 run to give them their largest lead since the first quarter at 68-60. The Bulldogs attempted to come back, cutting their deficit back to six points after a layup from Buckhanaon made the score 70-64. Free throws by Cater with four seconds remaining gave the Govs a 72-64 win for their fourth of the season.
The Difference
Fourth quarter efficiency. Austin Peay held the Bulldogs to an 18.8 field-goal percentage during the fourth quarter compared to the Govs 50.0 field-goal percentage. Austin Peay also went 10-for-10 from the free throw line as Fisk went seven-for-eight.
Inside the Box Score
- Cur'Tiera Haywood scored a team-high 18 points, which is her season-best.
- Haywood made four of five attempted three-pointers.
- Tiya Douglas grabbed a team-high 5 rebounds
- Abby Cater scored 16 points, marking her third game in a row to score double-digits.
- Shamarre Hale made her second start of her career for Austin Peay.
- Abby Cater scored 16 points, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter.
- Austin Peay's seven blocks are the most in a single game this season.
Up Next
The Governors host Bryan College for a 2 p.m., Saturday, game at F&M Bank Arena followed by the first-ever APSU Christmas Tournament when they play New Mexico State at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 21, followed by Stephen F. Austin at 2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 21.
