Govs own the glass, but fall in tight matchup at SIUE

The Govs are now 15-13 on the season and 8-9 in the OVC.

By Meagan Rummage

APSU Athletics Communications

February 22, 2018 8:44 am

Clarksville Now(Photo: Carder Henry/ APSU Athletics)

Edwardsville, Illinois. – (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team fell to SIU Edwardsville 67-55 in a physical mid-week game, Wednesday. Austin Peay (15-13, 8-9 OVC) started out strong in an aggressive man-to-man defense, winning the battle on the boards 8-3 in the first quarter.

The Govs were lead by senior center, Brianne Alexander, who scored eight points in the first quarter, as the Govs scored 10 points in the paint, four points off of SIUE turnovers, and four second-chance points. Austin Peay broke a run by the Cougars midway through the first period, before closing out the quarter on a 7-0 run of their own.

Arielle Gonzalez-Varner showed her strength on both ends of the floor in the first half, turning defense into offense, pulling down six rebounds and scoring four points in the opening two periods. Both teams struggled with scoring droughts, but it was Austin Peay with the four-point lead at the half, after Alexander got an offensive put-back to go at the halftime buzzer.

The Governors struggled from the floor in the third quarter, as SIU Edwardsville quickly erased the Govs’ halftime lead. Austin Peay was able to stop the bleeding momentarily behind the offensive play of Bri Williams, who stopped an 8-0 Cougar run with a three-pointer well behind the arc. Despite the offensive lapse in the third period, the Governors’ defense stood strong as the Govs pulled within five going into the final quarter.

Austin Peay continued to make mini runs at the Cougars throughout the fourth, as the lead hovered around nine points. After the final media timeout, Austin Peay made a final push going on a 7-0 run, but could not overcome the Cougars offensive pressure, falling in their final road game of the regular season, 67-55

Keisha Gregory led the Governors with 13 points and six rebounds, while Falon Baker and Alexander each added 11 points. Alexander pulled down nine rebounds and dished out three assists, while Baker shot 50.0 percent from behind the arc.

Arielle Gonzalez-Varner led the team in rebounds with 10 rebounds and eight points, while Nieja Crawford scored seven of Austin Peay’s 10 bench points.

Rivalry weekend comes to Clarksville, as the Govs wrap up the regular season 4:30 p.m., Saturday against Murray State in the Heritage Bank Battle of the Border.