In a defensive battle, the Eastern Kentucky University women’s basketball team saw Austin Peay State University pull away in the fourth quarter for a 59-45 victory on Thursday in Clarksville, Tennessee. The loss snapped Eastern’s two-game winning streak.
EKU trailed by eight, 37-29, after a 3-pointer by Brianah Ferby with 1:44 left in the third quarter. However, the Colonels answered with a 7-2 run to close within three early in the fourth. Four different players accounted for the seven points. A lay-up by Abby Wright with 9:12 left in the game made it 39-36.
The margin was still just three points after a lay-up by Madison Wood with 8:40 to go, but the Governors ended the game on an 18-7 run. After a lay-up from Brianne Alexander, Arielle Gonzalez-Varner stole the inbound pass and laid it up for a nine-point, 53-44, Austin Peay lead with 4:21 remaining.
The Governors (12-8, 5-4 OVC) scored the final six points of the game, holding EKU scoreless for the final 3:30.
Wright had a team-best 13 points to go along with seven rebounds for Eastern Kentucky (7-11, 4-5 OVC). Hayes finished with 11 points and a game-best eight rebounds, two short of a third straight double-double. Wood added seven points and six boards.
Falon Baker made 9-of-13 attempts from the field to finish with a game-high 25 points for Austin Peay.
Eastern shot 37 percent from the field while the Governors hit on 41 percent. APSU made three more 3-pointers and out-scored EKU at the free throw line by nine points.
The Colonels’ two-game OVC road trip ends Saturday at Murray State. The game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET.
— www.EKUSports.com —
Kevin Britton
Assistant Athletics Director for Communications & Branding
