CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (ESPN Clarksville) It was not pretty at times. It was not lights-out shooting. However, Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team once again showed amazing resiliency and fight to come back from another fourth-quarter deficit, defeating Southeast Missouri, 56-54, Thursday, at the Winfield Dunn Center.
The Governors (14-12, 9-6 OVC) came back from being down six points at the start of the fourth quarter for the second straight game to extend their win streak to three, the longest this season.
If you like high-scoring affairs, this game was not for you. Both the Govs and the Redhawks (12-14, 7-9 OVC) struggled to open the game, with the Govs missing their first nine shots.
SEMO made just two of their first nine shots, but the Govs actually led the majority of the quarter due to making eight free throws in the period. Latrese Saine, who had a massive game against the Govs in January, missed the game due to injury, but the Redhawks were still forcing tough shots by the Govs inside, with Kasey Kidwell finally hitting the first bucket on the 10th shot attempt. SEMO’s star guard Tesia Thompson hit a jumper as time expired in the quarter, but the Govs led, 10-9, despite a 1-of-11 start from the field.
The Govs looked like they might break out of their cold duck, with Maggie Knowles nailing a three-pointer on the first possession of the second quarter, but the Govs went cold again, missing their next four shots over a three-minute period that led to a 7-0 SEMO run. The run was broken by a circus shot in the lane from Nieja Crawford before Brianah Ferby made one of the most spectacular three-pointers in recent memory.
Ferby’s deep, high-arching shot bounced off the back iron and hit the top of the backboard twice before hitting the rim again and going in, a legal shot due to the fact it did not hit the shot clock. The Ferby sister connection once again proved fruitful, as Brandi Ferby nailed a triple of her own to give the Govs a 21-19 lead as SEMO were the ones who now found themselves with no points over a three-minute span.
The Govs had a chance to go into the half in the lead, but SEMO went on a late flurry and led, 23-22, after the first half. Free throws kept the Govs in it, as they shot just 5-of-26 from the field in the first half.
Speaking of those Ferby twins, they ignited the Dunn Center crowd once again when Brandi stole the ball from Thompson (who went on a 10 minute stretch without a point or rebound), led the fastbreak and dished to Brianah who finished to put the Govs up three. The Redhawks did not go away though, as a quick bucket was followed by Thompson’s first bucket in over 11 minutes, drawing an and-one and making the free throw to put SEMO back up by two, 50-48.
With eight seconds left, Keisha Gregory made one of two at the line, a rare occurrence for the all-time free-throw percentage leader, giving the Redhawks a chance to tie or win. SEMO opted for the win, with Adrianna Murphy firing a straightaway three-pointer that hit the rim and went out, as the Govs held on for their third win in a row.
The Govs host UT Martin, 1:30 p.m., Saturday, with a chance to climb into the top four in the OVC.