Austin Peay (1-6) vs. Brescia (3-6)
Saturday, December 6th, 2014 | 2:00pm CT
Winfield Dunn Center | Clarksville, TN
Clarksville, TN – After a winless road trip, Austin Peay women’s basketball team looks to change its fortunes when it begins a three-game homestand with a 2:00pm, Saturday contest against Brescia.
Austin Peay saw its four-game road trip end in frustration with a 65-60 loss at Memphis, Tuesday.The Lady Govs enjoyed a halftime lead for just the third time this season, but came out cold to start the second half and could not recover from a 13-0 Memphis run to start the frame.
Austin Peay enjoyed at least a five-point lead in each game of the road trip but could not make it stick.
Junior guard Tiasha Gray continued her run of strong performances, leading APSU with 19 points at Memphis. It is the third consecutive game the Clarksville native has led the Lady Govs in scoring and fourth time she has done so this season.
Sophomore forward Beth Rates chipped in 10 points in three rebounds in a nice bounce back performance.
Gray also is making a splash in the national rankings as she ranks among the nation’s top 50 in steals (3rd, 4.3 pg), assists (14th, 6.3 pg) and scoring (19.1 ppg).
Unofficially, she also ranks ninth nationally in minutes per game (37.9 mpg) according to WBBState.com.
APSU returns four starters among 10 letter winners from last season’s squad. That group includes the Lady Govs top five in both scoring and rebounding.
Despite the large number of returnees, the projected APSU starting five includes one senior, one junior and three sophomores – still a relatively young squad.
Brescia Bearcats
Brescia, from Owensboro, Kentucky, is an NAIA Division II basketball program… They were picked to finish tied for fifth in the South Division of the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s preseason poll… Sophomore guard Julie Whitfield returns after earning All-KIAC honors and averaging 22.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game as a freshman.
Senior forward Lauren Rodgers also returns after averaging 11 points and 7.2 rebounds per game… Brescia played Morehead State, November 24th, dropping a 98-68 decision… The Bearcats were outrebounded, 60-32, and were outscored 64-14 in the paint.
An Austin Peay Win Would
Be its second-straight home win… End its four-game losing streak… Give head coach Carrie Daniels a win in her first-ever meeting against Brescia… Improve Daniels’ record to 90-163 overall… Make the Lady Govs 443-636 overall since 1976-77.
An Austin Peay Loss Would
Keep it from winning back-to-back home games… Extend its losing streak to five games… Drop Daniels’ record to 89-164 overall… Make the Lady Govs 442-637 overall since 1976-77.
Next Team Up
Southern Illinois| Next Saturday
However, the Salukis are off to a hot start in 2014-15, posting a 4-1 record that is its best start since 1991-92. SIU owns wins against UT Martin, Memphis and Southeast Missouri already this season. Its lone loss was a 70-50 decision at Wright State.
Broadcast Information
Radio • WAPX 91.9 FM
Play-by-Play: Josh Stephenson
Analyst: Blake Ball
Govs on the Web
Live Video: www.OVCDigitalNetwork.com
Live Audio: www.LetsGoPeay.com/Watch
Live Statistics: www.PeayStats.com