Fort Myers, Fla. – Austin Peay State University women's basketball team dropped at 74-52 decision to Florida Gulf Coast in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship Semifinals, Tuesday, at Alico Arena. 

Austin Peay (17-16, 8-8 ASUN) went without a field goal until a layup by Gabby Zapata Smalls five and a half minutes into the first quarter. A layup by FGCU's Shekinah Guthrie extended the Eagles lead to 10-4 at 4:39. The Governors saw a scoring drought from 5:24-2:51 which was ended with a jumper by Alyssa Hargrove. 

Florida Gulf Coast made a trio of three pointers in the final two minutes of the first quarter, while holding the Governors to one shot from the floor in that span, extending the Eagles advantage to 19-8 through the opening ten minutes. 

The Govs enjoyed their best offensive and defensive quarter in the second, scoring 19 points while holding the Eagles to a game low 13 points. Austin Peay shot a game-high 53.3 percent from the field, making eight of 15 attempted attempts. The Eagles shot a game-low 30.8 percent from the floor, making 4-of-13 attempts. 

APSU got within two scores of FGCU three times with the final coming at 28-24 with 3:49 remaining. Following the Governor's trimming their deficit to four points, the Eagles scored three of the games next four points over the next two and a half minutes before an Anala Nelson driving layup concluded the first half's scoring with 55 seconds remaining. FGCU took a 32-27 lead heading into the locker room. 

The Governors and the Eagles exchanged shots to begin the third quarter but a three pointer by Dolly Cairns with 5:42 left in the quarter extended their lead to 11 at 44-33. The Governors saw a scoring drought from 6:53-2:48, enabling the Eagles to lead by 18 at 51-33 with three and a half minutes left. After trading shots, the Govs cut their deficit to 12 at 55-43 with a layup by Shamarre Hale at the buzzer.

Austin Peay cut their deficit to as few as 11 in the fourth quarter with free throws by La'Nya Foster with 7:57 left in the game. The Eagles went on a 14-5 run to end the game with the 74-52 victory. 

The Difference

Three-point shooting. The Govs made one of four attempted three pointers compared to the Eagle's eleven of 29 attempted. 

Inside the Box Score

• Shamarre Hale led the with 20 points and had a team-high eight rebounds. 
• Hale logged her third 20-point performance of the season.
• Anala Nelson's seven assists are tied for second most in her career.
• The Govs outscored the Eagles 40-26 in the paint.