APSU Women’s Basketball
Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay opens its longest homestand of the 2010-11 season when it hosts Lipscomb in a 7:00pm, Wednesday non-conference tilt at the Dunn Center.
The Lady Govs return home after closing a seven-game roadtrip, Saturday, with a loss at Eastern Illinois. Austin Peay posted a 2-5 record during the trip with victories against Utah Valley on a neutral court and at Southeast Missouri to open Ohio Valley Conference action.
That duo has supplied much needed help to junior guard Whitney Hanley who leads the team in scoring (14.3 ppg) and assists (3.3 apg) while ranking second in rebounding (5.3 rpg). Those averages took a dip following a foul-plagued 20-minute outing at Eastern Illinois that saw her score just seven points and grab three rebounds.
However, defense is the name of the game and its the one area Austin Peay has struggled through the season’s first nine games. The Lady Govs have permitted eight of their first nine opponents to shoot better than 40 percent from the field this season, including Eastern Illinois’ 43.9-percent effort, Saturday. Exacerbating matters has been the opponent’s efforts at the free-throw line where they are making an incredible 76.3 percent, including EIU’s 23-of-25 (92 percent) effort, Saturday.
Lipscomb was picked to finish 11th in both the Atlantic Sun’s coaches and media polls. Senior Jenna Bartsoka was named to the preseason All-Atlantic Sun team. She currently ranks fourth among A-Sun scorers (15.3 ppg) and fifth in steals (2.4 spg).
Lipscomb is 1-2 against OVC opponents this year. The Lady Bisons have losses to Tennessee Tech (65-81, November 18th) and Tennessee State (66-69, November 27th) with a victory against Jacksonville State (84-62, November 20th) sandwiched in between.
Key Notables From Lady Govs at Eastern Illinois
Sophomore Meghan Bussabarger followed her career-high 20-point outing at Southeast Missouri with a 19-point performance at Eastern Illinois. She was 6-of-12 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.
Freshman guard Nicole Olszewski reached double-digits in scoring for the second time in the last three games, finishing with 13 points at Eastern Illinois. She also chipped in six rebounds and three assists while playing the entire 40 minutes for the first time in her collegiate career.
Junior forward Jasmine Rayner posted the Lady Govs first double-digit rebounding effort, finishing with 13 rebounds, including eight offensive grabs. She finished with just eight points but also had three assists.
Junior guard Whitney Hanley was plagued throughout the contest by foul trouble, playing a season-low tying 20 minutes. She finished with seven points and three rebounds.
Austin Peay committed 22 turnovers in the contest – its second consecutive 20-plus turnover outing. It was the Lady Govs sixth game with more than 20 turnovers this season. They are averaging 20.9 turnovers per game.
The Lady Govs offense was limited to just 39.6 percent field-goal shooting. It was only the fourth time this season APSU has been held below 40 percent shooting.
Austin Peay made 36.4 percent of its three-point field goals and is shooting 39.0 percent (16-of-41) from long range in its last three games.
Next Up: Bowling Green
Austin Peay continues the homestand with a 5:15pm, Saturday contest against Bowling Green. The Falcons – a member of the Mid-American Conference – already own an 11-point victory against No. 23 Vanderbilt this season and are 8-1 after losing their season-opener at Evansville. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
