CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University's women's basketball team wrapped up the nonconference season with a 73-66 win against UT Southern on Saturday on Gary Mathews Court at F&M Bank Arena. 

UT Southern (4-5, 3-2 SSAC) opened the game with a 6-0 run, as Austin Peay (5-6)  responded with a 8-0 run of their own to the lead at 8-6. The two teams traded shots and found themselves tied at 10 with just under five minutes remaining in the first frame. The govs continued to extend their lead with a 13-3 run to go up by 10 at 23-13 with under a minute remaining as they took the first quarter, 24-15. 

The Firehawks cut their deficit to as few as five in the second quarter at 24-19. Still, the Govs held them scoreless for nearly five minutes as the Governors could extend their lead to 12 from a turnaround jumper by Foster with 4:26 remaining in the half. The Firehawks battled back with a 9-3 run to get back within six of the Govs at 36-30 heading into halftime.

UT Southern continued to battle back as a layup by Daysha Reid cut their trail to three at 47-44 with 3:22 left in the third quarter. The two teams went shot-for-shot, ending the quarter with a tie at 51. 

The fourth quarter began with back-and-forth action as the Govs and Firehawks were tied again at 55 with 7:37 left in the game. A layup by Sa'Mya Wyatt and free throws by Anovia Sheals allowed the Govs to gain a four-shot lead at 63-59. The two teams continued trading shots, but a layup by Wyatt gave the Govs a 72-64 lead with 30 seconds remaining in the game. UT Southern's Ashley Dickey made two free-throws to get as close as 72-66, but a final free-throw from Foster gave the Govs the 73-66 nonconference finale win. 

Up next, the Govs begin Atlantic Sun Conference play with a 6 p.m., Jan. 2 game against Eastern Kentucky at F&M Bank Arena. 

THE DIFFERENCE

Led by Anovia Sheals' 13 points, the Govs' bench outscored UT Southern's bench 21-4. The Governors' bench unit shot 63.6 percent from the field compared to UT Southern's 25.0 percent. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• La'Nya Foster paced the Govs with 16 points and 11 rebounds, marking her first double-double of the season and second of her career.
• Five Governors scored in double figures: Nariyah Simmons (10), Anala Nelson (10), Anovia Sheals (13), Sa'Mya Wyatt (13), La'Nya Foster (16). 
• This marks the first time since Feb. 10 that there were five players with ten or more points. 
• Nelson led with six assists and two steals.
• APSU had 21 bench points compared to UTS's four.
• Simmons went two-for-three from beyond the arc.