NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) With two players scoring over 20 points, Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team dropped a nail biter to the Ohio Valley Conference leaders, Belmont, 78-75 Saturday.
Austin Peay (11-8) came ready for battle with the undefeated Bruins, who have yet to fall in conference play this season. Falon Baker got the turnover train rolling, forcing Belmont into two early turnovers that kickstarted the Govs on the offensive end of the floor.
Belmont looked to stretch the game with a six-point run that extended their lead to eight, but the Governors would not let the game get out of reach. Austin Peay responded with a 6-0 run, behind the inside play of Brianne Alexander.
Alexander took control inside, scoring eight points in the first half, pulling down three rebounds and grabbing two steals. Alexander also went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the opening two quarters.
With the Bruin defense collapsing inside, space opened up for the shooters on the perimeter. Brianah Ferby scored eight points in the first half, nailing two three-point shots that kept the Governors within striking distance midway through the second period. With the clock winding down in the first half, the Govs got a critical stop on defense, and Falon Baker drove into the lane and got the shot at the buzzer to go, brining the Govs even at 30 points heading into the halftime break.
The Govs opened the second half on a 5-0 run, before Belmont heated up from deep. Ferby matched the Bruins hot streak with daggers from beyond the arc in the second half. Alexander found space underneath, as Belmont extended their defense to cover the deep threat. She scored 15 points in the second half, going 6-for-11 from the field.
The Govs went blow for blow with Belmont through much of the fourth quarter, as Brianah Ferby hit a three-point basket that brought the Govs within one, before Darby Maggard hit two free-throw shots following the Governors’ foul to stop the clock. With five seconds remaining in the game, the hot-handed Ferby took the final shot, but came up just short as the Govs fell 78-75, to the top ranked Bruins.
Ferby led all scorers with 28 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Alexander poured in 23 points, five rebounds and two steals.
Falon Baker added four points and four assists, with Keisha Gregory posting five points and six rebounds. Gregory tied a season high with five offensive rebounds, crashing the glass against the Bruins. Alexander has been hot from the free-throw line going 7-8 against the Bruins, and scoring 25 points from the stripe in the last four games.
APSU head Women’s Basketball Coach David Midlick talked about the team. “Our energy has been really good the past two games, we had a good week of practice, we refocused after the Tennessee Tech, Jacksonville State swing and we have to continue to bring this every day,” Midlick said.
The Governors return home to the Dunn Center 5:15 p.m., Thursday to face Eastern Kentucky.