Belmont vs Austin Peay Lady Govs
Saturday, February 28th, 2013 | 7:00pm (CT)
Clarksville, TN | Dunn Center (7,257)
Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team closes out the 2012-13 schedule with a two-game set at the Dunn Center beginning against the Belmont Bruins, 7:00pm (CT), Wednesday. This will be the first meeting between the two schools as Ohio Valley Conference opponents after Belmont joined the OVC last summer.
Austin Peay Lady Govs
Austin Peay brings a 2-12 OVC record into the contest after concluding its road schedule with a 69-55 loss at Eastern Kentucky, Saturday. The Lady Govs’ defense has struggled in the team’s OVC slate, allowing OVC opponents to shoot better than 40 percent from the floor 10 times in 14 games (42.3 percent combined) and average 70.7 points per game; however, the Lady Govs held Eastern Kentucky to 32.4 percent shooting last Saturday – the second time in three games the Lady Govs have held an opponent under 40 percent.
APSU has won the turnover battle in 13 games this season and owns a plus-2.2 turnover margin, in addition, the Lady Govs defense has recorded 10-plus steals 15 times this season, including a season-high 17 against Eastern Illinois, Feb. 18th.
Only three APSU players have played in every contest, seven players are averaging five or more points per game, with two averaging double figures (Meghan Bussabarger and Leslie Martinez at 13.0 and 10.5 points per game, respectively).
Belmont Bruins
In their first season in the OVC, the Bruins are qualified for next month’s Ohio Valley Conference Tournament out of the OVC East Division. The Bruins defense has played a pivotal role in Belmont’s success, holding opponent’s to 54.6 ppg on 33.7 percent shooting during OVC play, both league-bests. Austin Peay’s rebounding troubles may get a reprieve against a Belmont frontline pulling in only 27.8 percent of missed shots on the offensive glass (11th in the conference) against OVC opponents.
Belmont is last in the OVC in steals (5.7/g)… the Bruins have only two players (Jordan Coleman and Katie Brooks) averaging in double figures, at 10.1 and 10.0 ppg, respectively. Coleman, a nine-time OVC Newcomer of the Week, leads the Bruins in scoring, rebounding (10.1/g), assists (3.2/g), steals (41) and blocks (28) and is one of only three players averaging a double-double this season. Brooks’ 11.7 ppg against OVC foes makes her the only Bruin in double figures during conference play.
An Austin Peay Win Would
Be its third consecutive win against Belmont, and first with the Bruins as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. It would be its first home conference win this season, and make it 5-7 at home in 2012-13. The Lady Govs would improve it to 3-12 in OVC play and make it 2-5 in February. The win would improve Carrie Daniels’ record to 80-135 overall and 53-71 in OVC play, and make the Lady Govs 433-608 overall since 1976-77.
An Austin Peay Loss Would
End its two-game winning streak against Belmont, make it 2-13 in OVC play, make it 4-8 in the Dunn Center this season, drop Daniels’ record to 79-136 overall and 52-72 in OVC play, and make the Lady Govs 432-609 overall since 1976-77.
Media Center
Radio: Governors Sports Network (David Loos, play-by-play)
Live Stats: www.LetsGoPeay.comLive
Audio: www.LetsGoPeay.com
ipTV: www.OVCDigitalNetwork.com
Head Coaches
Austin Peay – Carrie Daniels (Austin Peay, 1996) is 79-135 (.371) in her seventh season as a head coach at Austin Peay.
Belmont – Brittney Ezell (Alabama, 1999) is 38-50 (.432) in her third season at the school and 117-111 (.513) in seven seasons as a head coach.
Series
Tied 5-5 (3-2 in Clarksville) | Streak: APSU, two wins | Daniels vs. Belmont: 2-0
