CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – (CLARKSVILLE) Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team punched its ticket to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament with a 74-64 victory over Southeast Missouri, Saturday, in the Show Me Center.
APSU is the No. 5 seed and will face UT Martin, 1 p.m., Thursday, in the opening round from Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. The two teams split the season series, with the Govs earning an 85-60 victory last time the squads met on Feb. 22 in Clarksville.
The Governors complete their regular season schedule with an 8-8 record for the third consecutive year, and will also enter the postseason field for the third-straight season.
Against the Redhawks, APSU’s senior leaders stepped up when it counted, as Tearra Banks and Beth Rates combined for 39 points – 27 in the second half. After an off night against the Skyhawks, Banks returned to her roots on Saturday, finishing with 21 points and 13 rebounds – the 17th double-double of her prestigious career. Meanwhile, Rates took over offensively late in the game, totaling 18 points overall on 7-of-10 shooting.
The Govs and Redhawks were neck-and-neck down the closing stretch, separated by just one point at the 3:03 mark of the third quarter. However, Austin Peay went on a 9-0 run from that point on, holding SEMO to 0-of-9 from the field in that span.
Austin Peay trailed by as much as 12 points in the contest, but a strong third quarter with 27 points scored proved to be the difference.
The Govs are Nashville bound. APSU opens the OVC Tournament against UT Martin, 1 p.m., Thursday in the Municipal Auditorium.