DELAND, Fla. – Austin Peay State University women's basketball team upset No. 2 Stetson in a 49-45 wire-to-wire decision in the Quarterfinals of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament, Saturday, at the J. Ollie Edmunds Center.

Austin Peay (17-15) and Stetson (17-14, 12-4 ASUN) started off with back-and-forth action, seeing each of the games three ties. A layup by Gabby Smalls followed by a three pointer from Abby Cater gave the Govs a 11-6 lead with five minutes remaining in the first frame. Stetson's Jamiya Turner responded with a layup 20 seconds later to trim their deficit back to three at 11-8. The two teams went on a scoring drought from 4:25-2:09, which was ended with free throws and a layup by Abby Cater, which was the beginning of a 8-0 run, ending the quarter with the Govs leading 19-8. 

The Governors extended their lead to as many as 12 points at 21-11with a layup by Shamarre Hale two and a half minutes into the second quarter. The Hatters were able to cut their deficit to as few as eight points at 27-19 with 1:14 left in the half, however a three pointer from Tiya Douglas ended the half with the Govs up by 11 points at 30-19.

The third quarter began with a scoring drought from both teams until a successful trip to the free throw line from Stetson's Jordan Peete. A steal and layup by Anala Nelson ended the Govs drought at 4:35 at 32-21. The Hatters got within eight points of the Govs at 34-26 with 2:13 left in the quarter, but a three pointer by Alyssa Hargrove from a Stetson turnover allowed the Govs to take the 37-26 lead headed into the final quarter. 

Austin Peay was scoreless for the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, that ended with a successful trip to the free throw line by Nelson, getting the Govs back to a seven point lead. The Hatters got as close as four points to the Govs three times during the final frame. Q Mitchell's free throw with 13 seconds left made the game 47-43 as La'Nya Foster responded with two free throws. Peete made the final basket of the game, but the Governors still got the 49-45 quarterfinals victory. 

The Difference

First quarter efficiency. The Govs went 7-for-14 from the field, shooting 50.0 percent and going 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Stetson went 4-for-12 from the field, shooting 33.3 percent. The Governors held the Hatters to a game field goal percentage of 28.6, which was the Hatters third lowest of the season. 

Inside the Box Score

• Abby Cater led the way for the Govs with nine points. 
• Shamarre Hale, Anala Nelson, and La'Nya Foster each had eight points, 
• Hale and Nelson led with seven rebounds.
• Gabby Smalls blocked three shots. 
• This was the first time since Feb. 18, 2021 against SIUE that a team has not scored a three on the Govs. 
• The Governors are 8-5 in semifinals games with the last win being a 78-71 victory over Morehead State in 2010.
• The Governors are 7-1 in Championship games, with the last win being a 69-60 victory against Eastern Illinois. 
• Head Coach Brittany Young moves to 4-2 in conference tournaments as the Govs earned their 30th all-time conference postseason win. 

Up Next

The Govs play in the Semifinals round of the ASUN Tournament on Tuesday, March 12, in a 7 p.m. game against Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers, Florida.