CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) In a low scoring affair, Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team dropped a defensive battle, 59-47, to Illinois, Saturday.
The Fighting Illini opened the scoring with a quick layup inside, but the Governors kept Illinois (9-4) from scoring for the next five minutes as Austin Peay (7-3) went on a 10-0 run. Kelen Kenol was a force inside scoring four points in the first quarter, while Brianne Alexander completed a three-point play to give the Governors an early eight-point led.
Illinois clawed their way back into the game with a five-point run of their own to end the first period, but the Governors’ seven points off of turnovers and five second-chance points helped secure a three-point lead heading into the second quarter.
The Governors outscored the Fighting Illini 10-9 in the second quarter, with Keisha Gregory leading the way with six points and two rebounds in the second period. The Govs got a lift off the bench from Michaela Campbell who scored five points in the second quarter as Austin Peay took a four-point advantage into halftime.
Illinois changed their approach coming out of the halftime break as the Governors’ four-point lead evaporated midway through the third quarter, as the Fighting Illini shot 46.2 percent from the field. Despite going cold from the floor, the Governors continued to fight, down four points heading into the final period.
The Govs had a balanced offense in the fourth quarter with five Governors getting on the scoresheet. Keisha Gregory and Falon Baker worked to mount a comeback from behind the arc in the final minutes, but could not overshadow Illinois’ guard Brandi Beasley who scored 12 points in the final quarter.
Gregory led the Govs for the second-straight game scoring 11 points, pulling down four rebounds and dishing out two assists. Baker drained three shots from behind the arc, scoring eight points with three rebounds. Brianne Alexander also added eight points down low, pulling down five rebounds. Campbell provided a spark off the bench scoring seven points in her 17 minutes, while Brianah Ferby added five points and three rebounds.
APSU Head Women’s Basketball Coach David Midlick talked about the Govs defense. “I thought throughout the entire game that we had good effort defensively, we had lapses, but I you can’t fault the effort of our ladies on that end of the floor,” said Midlick.
The Govs will finish their road swing 10 a.m., Monday at Ball State.