MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team held a one-point halftime lead over defending Conference USA champions Middle Tennessee, but fell on the wrong end of a 82-51 score, Saturday, in the Murphy Center.
The Governors led the Blue Raiders 34-33 at the break following back-to-back threes by redshirt sophomore guard Falon Baker and senior guard April Rivers put APSU on top. Austin Peay shot 50 percent in the opening half (13-of-26), including six successful attempts behind the three-point arch. The Govs led for nearly nine minutes before the Blue Raiders rallied in the second half.
Offensively, it was a balanced scoring night for Austin Peay, with 34 points coming in the first half. Senior center Tearra Banks finished the game with team-highs in both points (10) and rebounds (eight), just shy of her third-straight double-double.
Ten different Governors scored, with Baker and senior forward Beth Rates each totaling eight points.
Game Notes
• For her career, Banks has led APSU in scoring 17 times and in rebounding on 27 occasions. Saturday’s game was also her 11th double-digit scoring output in 2016. Banks is also 11 points away from becoming a top 15 scorer in Austin Peay women’s basketball history, now with 1,059 points.
• With her three-pointer in the second period, Baker extended her consecutive games streak with a triple to six contests.
• Rates recorded two blocks against the Blue Raiders, improving her career total to 105, 14 shy of tying Ashley Haynes for third all-time.
• The Govs were 11-of-16 at the free throw line, their highest number of successful attempts since Nov. 30 against East Tennessee.
Up Next
Austin Peay ends its nonconference schedule on the road at Ole Miss, 6 p.m., Tuesday.