SATURDAY'S SCORES
Austin Peay 66, @Eastern Illinois 63
@Jacksonville State 72, Morehead State 64
@SIUE 78, Murray State 52
@UT Martin 96, Southeast Missouri 55
Belmont 64, @Tennessee State 62
Eastern Kentucky 97, @Tennessee Tech 93 (2OT)
AUSTIN PEAY 66, EASTERN ILLINOIS 63
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Junior guard Tiasha Gray scored 32 points to lead Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team to a 66-63 Ohio Valley Conference victory against Eastern Illinois, Saturday, at Lantz Arena.
Gray scored 11 of Austin Peay’s final 13 points, including nine points from the free-throw line, to help secure the victory. She became the first Lady Govs player to record back-to-back 30-point games (she had 31 against Morehead State, Monday) since Brooke Armistead during the 2001-02 season. Gray also had 11 rebounds – her fifth double-double this season – five steals and three assists.
Austin Peay (7-13, 4-3 OVC) led by 13 points, 45-32, after Gray found sophomore Jacey Scott, who hit a three-pointer with just 4:32 into the second half. The Lady Govs still led by 10 points after sophomore Tearra Banks converted a traditional three-point play - again with an assist from Gray – at the 9:47 mark.
Eastern Illinois (7-14, 4-4 OVC) methodically pieced together a 10-1 run that consumed nearly four minutes off the clock. The Panthers cutting a nine-point deficit with 6:58 left to just one point, 59-58, with 2:17 left.
Gray would hit a pair of free throws to stem the tide and Austin Peay followed with a key defensive stop. However, Austin Peay could not convert and saw Eastern Illinois hit a layup to get back within a point with 30 seconds left.
Stainback hit a pair of free throws on the next APSU possession and Gray grabbed a rebound to solidify another APSU defensive stop. However, Gray hit only one of two free throws to push the APSU lead to four points with 12 seconds left.
Eastern Illinois didn’t go away with Shakita Cox hitting a three-pointer on the next possession to trim the lead back to one point. The Panthers fouled Gray again with 3.1 seconds left and this time she hit both free throws. An Eastern Illinois three-pointer at the horn harmlessly hit the front of the rim.
Austin Peay controlled the game’s opening eight minutes. The Lady Govs scored the game’s first nine points – Gray responsible for seven on her own – and held a seven-point lead, 15-8 at the 12:22 mark. Austin Peay was held to one field goal over a five-minute span as Eastern Illinois pieced together an 11-3 run to take its only lead of the first half, 19-17, at the 8:52 mark after a layup by Cox.
The Lady Govs scored the game’s next 11 points, including five points by Banks, to grab a nine-point, 28-19 lead with 4:10 left. Austin Peay would nurse that advantage into the halftime break, leading 33-25.
Gray’s double-double led Austin Peay but senior Kristen Stainback and Banks joined her in double-digit scoring territory. Stainback hit a pair of three pointers as part of a 14-point outing. Banks was 5-of-7 from the floor and finished with a 12-point, six-rebound outing.
Bh’rea Griffin led Eastern Illinois with 12 points off the bench. Sabina Oroszova had an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double before fouling out. Erica Brown and Cox each added 11 points.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 72, MOREHEAD STATE 64
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - After dropping two Ohio Valley Conference games on the road in the last seven days, the Jacksonville State women's basketball team returned home to the friendly confines of Pete Mathews Coliseum, where the Gamecocks are have only dropped one game.
Morehead State opened the game fast offensively before the Gamecocks were able to establish momentum and take their first lead off a Briana Benson 3-point basket less than six minutes into the game. It wouldn't be the last bucket for Benson from behind the arc, but it would be the last time the Eagles held the lead as the Gamecocks went on to win 72-64.
The win pushes Jax State's record to 13- 7 while moving its conference record to 4-4. It also marks the eighth home win of the season for the Gamecocks, matching last season's home wins total. The victory also snaps an eight-game losing streak to MSU and first since Jan. 8, 2011.
For Benson, she finished with a team-high 17 points, 15 of which came from 3-point land as the Jonesboro, Ga. native made 5-of-10 shots from behind the arc, which matched her career high for treys-made in a game. She had 11 of those points in the first half, a first half that saw the Gamecocks take a 36-25 lead into the locker room.
However, Benson wasn't the only JSU player doing big things Saturday afternoon.
Destany McLin finished with her fifth double-double of the season, seventh for her career, as the junior from Athens, Alabama had 16 points and 12 rebounds in a team-high 33 minutes of play.
Candace Morton also joined her teammates with a double figure scoring game. After sinking two late free throws, Morton was able to finish with 11 points and four assists for the Gamecocks. By pulling down four rebounds during the contest, she becomes the seventh player all-time in JSU history to score 1,000 points and have 500 rebounds in their career.
After missing four games over the span of two weeks, senior Miranda Cantrell returned to the court for JSU. She saw 20 minutes of game action off the bench while scoring six points and having one rebound and one assists. Cantrell's basket at the seven-minute mark of the opening half gave JSU its first double figure lead of 30-20.
Pietri and his team were able to fend off a game-high 23 point performance from OVC preseason team member Almesha Jones, who also dished out five assists. Eriel McKee had nine points and 10 rebounds for the Eagles. MSU had five players on its roster averaging double figures, led by Jones coming in to the contest. JSU limited the Eagles to under their season's scoring average of 70 points. Jones set the Morehead State all-time assists mark, breaking Irene (Moore) Strong's record, held for more than 30 years. Moore compiled 499 handouts from 1978-82. Jones now has 502 career assists.
Even though the Eagles challenged the Gamecocks with a zone defense, they drilled four three-point baskets in each 20 minute session. Both teams mirrored each other offensively as they hit 44 percent from the field. JSU won the rebounding edge by a 44-36 mark.
UT MARTIN 96, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 55
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin women’s basketball made little work of Ohio Valley Conference foe Southeast Missouri on Saturday afternoon as the league’s top team posted five players in double figures en route to a 96-55 victory.
The Skyhawks (11-9, 7-0 OVC) shot 59.7 percent from the floor – including a 55.6 percent mark from beyond the arc where they hit 10 shots from distance. Sophomore Ashia Jones notched her fifth 30 point outing of the season while also tallying five rebounds, four assists and three steals. The quartet of Tiara Caldwell (12), Katie Schubert (11 points, seven assists), Karisma Tyson (11) and Chelsea Roberts (10) also scored in double figures in the contest.
With the victory, the Skyhawks remain unbeaten in OVC play on the season while picking up their 14th consecutive victory against league foes dating back to last season. As a whole, the Skyhawks have won 32 of their last 33 games in OVC play.
Southeast Missouri (8-13, 1-7 OVC) dropped its seventh contest in the last eight games despite shooting 45.1 percent from the floor. Opposed to the team’s high shooting percentage, it was the squad’s 22 turnovers and field goal defense which was the Redhawks demise. Erin Bollmann was a standout for the Redhawks however, leading the team with 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting.
The Skyhawks would come out of the gates hot from the field. After scoring the game’s first two buckets from their post duo, the home squad would keep on the attack, jumping out to an 8-2 run before SEMO called its first timeout of the contest. Four players would score during the opening five minutes of the game for the Skyhawks, posting a 10-2 advantage at the first media break.
UT Martin would continue on the offensive, outscoring Southeast Missouri 10-6 following the previous run. Jones added four points during the span while three players scored off the bench for the Skyhawks. Erin Bollmann notched four points for the Redhawks despite trailing 20-8.
Three players scored for both squads through the course of the following four minutes. Jones notched her 35th double figure performance in the past 37 contests during the span while Tyson and Katie Schubert combined to knock down three trifectas. The trio of Jasmine Robinson, Yelena Rosado and Connor King each got on the board for the Redhawks.
The Skyhawks would stretch their advantage out to 20 points at the 4:56 mark as Jessy Ward knocked down a three-pointer from the right wing. A three-pointer by Allyson Bradshaw from the top of the key would snap a 13-2 run for the Skyhawks. Jones would notch seven points during the run while Ward and Monique Jackson would each knock down field goals of their own.
Southeast Missouri would outscore UT Martin in the final minutes of the first half by an advantage of 8-5, but the run wouldn’t be enough as the Skyhawks held a 48-28 advantage going into the break. Jones would lead all scorers with 17 points during the first while Tyson notched 11 points for the Skyhawks who shot a blistering 63.3 percent from the floor. The Redhawks were led by Bollmann with six points at the break.
The Skyhawks would come out of the second half on a 10-0 run, holding the Redhawks scoreless for over three minutes before Bradshaw would snap yet another run with a three-pointer at the 16:11 mark. Jones would reach the 20 point plateau for the ninth time in the last 11 games during the run, scoring four points.
Both teams would exchange buckets over the following eight minutes of play with the Skyhawks maintaining their 20 points advantage while outscoring the Redhawks 16-12 during the span. Roberts would join both Jones and Tyson in double figures during the span with a pair of trifectas while Bollmann tallied four points to reach double figure plateau.
Back-to-back three-pointers by Schubert would highlight the following couple of minutes, seeing the junior reach double figures for the first time since Jan. 10. The Skyhawks posted a 14-3 run over the course of over three minutes, seeing Jones reach the 30 point mark for the fifth time this season with an old fashioned three-point play.
The Skyhawks would finish the game in strong fashion, closing the contest on a 6-0 run as the team ran away with the 96-55 victory – the team’s largest margin of victory on the season.
BELMONT 64, TENNESSEE STATE 62
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Belmont women's basketball team (7-14, 4-4 OVC) dug in its heels and battled to the final seconds of regulation for its third consecutive victory on Saturday evening. The Bruins knocked off crosstown rival Tennessee State (8-10, 5-2 OVC), 64-62. The win improves BU to 4-4 in the OVC.
TSU used a three pointer from the top of the arc to go up, 10-6, taking advantage of an early icy spell by the Bruins. Finally, after nearly four minutes, back-to-back jumpers by sophomore Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.) and freshman Sally McCabe (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) helped get BU back into the game and close the gap to one, 11-10, with just over 12 minutes on the clock.
Belmont continued to chip away at the Lady Tiger lead and by the eight and a half minute mark, behind a trey by Sierra Jones (Huntsville, Ala.) and a free throw by sophomore Lauren Thompson (Franklin, Tenn.), the Bruins were down by one, 17-16. BU dug in its heels and saw Jones net another triple from the same spot outside the arc to knot the score at 19, two minutes later. A trifecta from the top of the arc by senior Torie Vaught (Maryville, Tenn.) gave BU its first lead of the contest, 22-19, and Joubran followed with a pair at the stripe to expand the advantage to five points by the 5:37 mark.
Vaught banked in a trey with 21 ticks remaining in the half and forced back-to-back turnovers for the Lady Tigers as the clock neared expiration. Belmont tried to hold for the final shot but the attempt rolled around the rim and popped out sending the teams to their respective locker rooms with BU leading, 31-29.
After the break, the Lady Tigers opened the half on a 5-0 run to go up, 34-31. Belmont remained silent from the hardwood over the same span before Vaught knocked down her third three pointer of the contest to tie the game at 34 with 16:06 remaining on the clock. After the teams traded baskets and forced three ties, the Bruins began surging around the 12 minute mark.
With a flurry of points coming from senior Jordyn Luffman-Hartsfield (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) and McCabe, Joubran went on to convert a three-point opportunity to put Belmont back on top, 47-46, three minutes later. Firing on all cylinders, Luffman-Hartsfield followed with another three pointer, forcing a stunned Lady Tiger bench burned a time out to regroup.
The teams resumed trading baskets down the stretch, pushing the teams to a 10th tie, this time at 52, with 5:46 left in regulation. However, Belmont grabbed the lead on a pair of McCabe free throws and refused to relinquish the advantage. The final minute of regulation was played at a fast and furious pace. TSU came away with a pair of steals that opened the door to back-to-back three pointers that made it a two-point game, 64-62, with 39 seconds left.
Suddenly, the Lady Tigers found their rim capped and was unable to score a game-tying field goal over the next 20 seconds. Belmont was fouled on a rebound attempt but was unable to hit either at the stripe with 8.9 seconds left. Tennessee State called its final timeout and attempted to set up for a three pointer to win the game. However, the shot attempt was short and right of the rim, securing the 64-62 victory for the Bruins.
Tennessee State shot 34.4 percent from the floor, 36.0 percent from three-point range and 69.2 percent from the free-throw line. The Lady Tigers held the advantage in blocks, 4-2, and steals, 12-0.
TSU was led in scoring by Chelsea Hudson, who notched a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Brianna Lawrence added 15 points.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 97, TENNESSEE TECH 93
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Sophomore Michaela Hunter poured in a career-high 40 points to lead the Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team to a thrilling, 97-93 double-overtime victory over Ohio Valley Conference foe Tennessee Tech on Saturday night at the Eblen Center.
It is EKU's (8-9, 3-4 OVC) third straight OVC road win and second straight win over Tennessee Tech (5-16, 2-6 OVC) in Cookeville, a place at which – until last year – the Colonels had not won since 2003.
Hunter was the catalyst of the victory, as her 40 points are the third-most ever scored by an EKU women's basketball player in a single game. The Mt. Vernon, Kentucky native also made the key play of the game, as she converted a coast-to-coast layup with 1.5 seconds in regulation to tie the game and send it into its first overtime.
However, all 10 Colonels who played had fingerprints on the win. Junior Miranda Maples scored a career-high 21 points, grabbed nine boards, knocked down two big free throws with just over a minute to play in the first overtime and buried a three-pointer with the Colonels down one, 92-91, and less than a minute to play in the second overtime.
Junior Shameekia Murray added 16 points and seven rebounds and went 6-of-6 from the free throw line, two of which gave the Colonels a 91-90 lead with 1:26 to play in the second overtime.
It was junior Jasmine Stafford, however, that hit, arguably, the biggest free throws of the game. With EKU up by two, 94-92, and 30 seconds to play in the second overtime, Stafford calmly sank two free throws to give the Colonels a two-possession lead and, essentially, seal the win. Hannah Goolsby converted only one free throw on Tech's ensuing possession and then missed a desperation three-pointer with eight seconds on the clock to end the game.
It was EKU's first double-overtime game since a 91-86 win over Tennessee State on January 29, 2011.
The Colonels notched season highs in three-pointers (12) and free throws (25) made in the game.
Samaria Howard paced Tech with 20 points and nine rebounds. T'Keyah Williams added a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Catherine Taylor hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Tech a 41-39 lead at halftime, and the Golden Eagles rode that momentum to a 10-point lead, 61-51, with 7:26 to play in the game.
TTU led by seven, 72-65, with 1:35 left to play. After Maples and Hunter both knocked down a pair of free throws to cut EKU's deficit to three, the Colonels used full-court press to force a steal and Murray knocked down a three-pointer to tie the game, 72-72, with 45 ticks on the clock.
Williams gave TTU the lead again, 74-72, with a layup with nine seconds remaining; however, Hunter responded with a coast-to-coast drive and bucket that tied the game with 1.5 seconds to play and sent it into overtime.
SIUE 78, MURRAY STATE 52
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE women's basketball improved to 7-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play Saturday with a 78-52 triumph over Murray State at the Vadalabene Center.
The Cougars, 12-9 overall, won their seventh straight game with a dominant performance against Murray State, 5-15 overall and 0-7 in the OVC.
Shronda Butts, the four-time OVC Newcomer of the Week, turned in another solid performance with 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field. She also led the Cougars with four assists.
Tierny Austin, honored before the game for scoring 1,000 career points earlier this season, finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds for SIUE. Austin moved up to 13th on the all-time scoring list with 1,149 points, passing SIUE Athletics Hall of Famer Lori Blade (1,144 - 1983-88).
SIUE freshman Gwen Adams added 16 points and nine rebounds.
Murray State missed its first nine shots of the game and trailed all but the first 2:18 of the game when neither team had scored. The Racers were held to 26.8 percent shooting as Jashae Lee led the team off the bench with 11 points. Netanya Jackson and Keiona Kirby added 10 points each.