CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University women's basketball team took a 59-71 loss to UTRGV in the first round of the Women's National Basketball Tournament, Thursday, at F&M Bank Arena.
UTRGV (21-13) took an early lead on Austin Peay (19-14) as a jumper by Jalayah Ingram gave the Vaqueros a 12-4 lead with 4:45 remaining in the first. The two teams went back and forth as a jumper by Ines Gnahore got the Govs within five at 16-11. Free throws by Ivy Brown allowed UTRGV to lead by seven, as a three-pointer by Anovia Sheals with five seconds remaining cut the Govs' deficit to 18-14.
The Vaqueros held the Governors scoreless for the first three and a half minutes of the second quarter, allowing them to build their lead to 15 at 29-14. The Govs' drought was ended with a three-pointer by JaNiah Newell, as the Govs fought to get back within five at 29-24 with a minute and a half before the break. Back-to-back jumpers from Ingram ended the first half with the Vaqueros leading 38-29.
UTRGV built its lead back up to 14 at 48-34 from a layup by Chazlyn Dettor with just under six minutes to play in the third frame. Layups by Jade Rucker and Jim'Miyah Branton got the Govs within nine at 41-50 with a minute remaining, as UTRGV ended the third frame with free throws and a jumper to lead 54-41.
The Vaqueros continued to lead into the fourth quarter, taking a 14-point lead at 63-49 off a layup by Ingram with 5:59 remaining. A three-pointer by Rucker got the Govs within 10 at 59-69 with two and a half minutes left in the game, but free throws by Ingram gave the Vaqueros the 71-59 first-round win.
THE DIFFERENCE
Field goal percentage. UTRGV shot 61.2 percent from the field compared to the Govs' 33.3 percent.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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