CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) Behind two season highs, Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team topped UT Martin in a midweek conference showdown, 69-62, Wednesday.
Austin Peay (9-5) hit the ground running, shooting 66.7 percent in the first quarter, outscoring the Skyhawks 24-7. Brianah Ferby made her presence known early, going 3-5 from the field, racking up eight points in the first quarter and pushing the Govs to a 17-point lead.
The Govs held UT Martin (5-10) to seven points in the first quarter, as the Skyhawks struggled in the early going, missing their first six field goal attempts. UT Martin’s full court trap opened the door for the Govs in the paint, where Austin Peay scored 12 points in the first period.
The Governors kept fresh legs on the court in defensive rotations, but struggled on the offensive end, going nearly 10 minutes without a field goal in the second and third quarters. The Govs continued to fight defensively, forcing six turnovers during their shooting lapse, and held onto a one-point lead going into the final quarter.
The Skyhawks clawed back for their first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter, but Brianne Alexander and Michaela Campbell were determined to not let the game slip away. Campbell hit back-to-back three points shots, returning the lead to Austin Peay, while Alexander scored six points, including two crucial offensive put-back shots, securing the Govs second league win.
Alexander led all scorers with 17 points, nine rebounds and two steals. Campbell added 15 points, shooting 50.0 percent from beyond the arc, while Brianah Ferby continued her freshman campaign with 11 points and five rebounds.
Bri Williams and Keisha Gregory each scored eight points, with Falon Baker adding a season high seven assists.
Austin Peay will play the final game of their four-game homestand 4:30 p.m., Saturday against Southeast Missouri.