By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A 17-0 second quarter run by Austin Peay brought the Lady Govs back from the brink of extinction, and the home team carried the day as APSU claimed a 91-75 Ohio Valley Conference victory over Tennessee Tech Saturday evening in the Dunn Center.
The Golden Eagles (5-12/1-3 OVC) had their way in the first quarter, riding a scoring explosion by Samaria Howard to roll out to the huge, 23-8 early lead.
But missed shots and turnovers caught up quickly after the change of periods, and the Lady Govs (5-11/3-0 OVC) rattled back to take a 25-23 lead.
The game turned into a real donnybrook the rest of the way, and Austin Peay found a little more variety in the scoring column to hold on down the stretch, plus an over abundance of free throws. The Lady Govs went 34-for-41 at the charity stripe. Tech had about half as many chances, going 16-for-22 at the line.
Howard finished with 28 points and eight rebounds, while Yaktavia Hickson added 15 points and a team-leading four assists. Hannah Goolsby and Lindsey Alexander netted nine each, and Mariah Dean added six points and a game-best nine rebounds.
APSU countered with three players deep into double figures. Tiasha Gray led APSU with 32 points along with seven rebounds and seven assists, while Beth Rates had 18 points and seven rebounds and Brianne Alexander finished with 17 points and eight rebounds.
Each team lost two players to fouls in a game where 52 fouls were whistled, 30 on the visitors and 22 on the Govs.
Five different players dented the scoring charts in the first quarter, and a 17-4 run left Tech with a 23-8 lead with 1:38 remaining.
APSU's 17-0 run began with a layup by Tearra Banks and ended when Falon Baker's 3-pointer made it 25-23 wit 5:45 to play in the half. A layup by Howard snapped Tech's 5:53 scoreless streak.
The score was tied six times in the thirf period, and once more in the fourth, the final time coming with 7:51 remaining at 61-61.
A three-point play by Gray with 6:48 to go put the Govs ahead, a lead they held the rest of the way.
Tech was within six, 70-64, following a free throw by Jennings with 4:20 remaining, but a 3-pointer 18 seconds later by Baker game the Govs some breathing room. Austin Peay was 14-for-16 at the free throw line the rest of the way.
APSU shot 52 percent in the second half and finished the game hitting 47.3 percent (26-for-55). After hitting 46 percent in the first half, Tech cooled off to 36 percent in the second, for a game mark of 41.2 percent. The Golden Eagles held a 38-37 edge in rebounds.
Tech's next outing will feature an 11 a.m. tipoff time as the Golden Eagles travel to Martin, Tenn., for their lone meeting with the UT Martin Skyhawk women.
Following that game to wrap up their three-game road stretch, the Golden Eagles return to Eblen Center on Saturday, Jan. 16, when they host Southast Missouri at 5:30 p.m. to open an OVC doubleheader against the Redhawk teams.
For information or tickets, visit the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center or call (931) 327-3940.
