Box Score

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Raechele Gray’s steal with two seconds left helped Eastern Kentucky hold off Austin Peay, 61-59, on Monday night.

The Lady Colonels (9-8, 5-2 OVC) had a two-point lead with less than 30 seconds left in the game, but Austin Peay had the ball.  Alex Jones forced a jump ball with the arrow pointing in EKU’s direction.  The Lady Govs (5-14, 2-4 OVC) fouled Carla Booth and the freshman knocked down a pair of free throws with 20.3 seconds remaining for a 61-57 lead. 

APSU’s Whitney Hanley missed on a lay-up, but grabbed the offensive board and nailed a jumper with 10.1 seconds to go to cut the Eastern lead in half.  Austin Peay fouled Booth again with no time running off the clock.  This time the freshman missed both from the charity stripe.  The Lady Govs never got off a tying shot.  Gray knocked the ball away from Nicole Olszewski and took two dribbles before the horn sounded.

Jones finished with her 21st career double-double, posting 13 points and 15 rebounds.  She moved into eighth place on EKU’s all-time career rebounds list.  Sophomore Marie Carpenter scored a game-best 22 points.

Somalia McKenney led Austin Peay with 14 points off the bench.  Hanley entered the game averaging 18.1 points per game, third best in the OVC.  She did not score in the first half and finished with six points. 

The two teams combined for 46 fouls and 58 free throw attempts.  Eastern went 21-for-29 from the line while the Lady Govs connected on 25-of-29.  EKU out-rebounded Austin Peay by nine.  The Lady Colonels grabbed 17 offensive boards but turned those rebounds into only five second chance points.

EKU took advantage of a slow start by Austin Peay and jumped out to a 13-2 lead.  Carpenter capped the quick start with two free throws and a three-pointer.  The Lady Govs didn’t hit their first field goal until the 12:41 mark, but had scored six at the free throw line.  APSU started the game 1-for-14 from the field and the Lady Colonels led 17-8 midway through the half.

Eastern still led by nine when the Lady Govs used a 12-2 run to take a one-point lead.  Austin Peay scored six of the 12 at the free throw line and went in front 24-23 on a jumper by Jasmine Rayner with 3:42 to play before intermission.  APSU didn’t hit another field goal the rest of the half as the Lady Colonels closed out with an 11-3 run to take a 34-27 lead into the locker room at the break.

EKU scored four of the first six points in the second half to go in front by nine, 38-29, but Austin Peay scored eight unanswered to close within one, 38-37, with 13:16 left to play.  The Lady Govs remained within five until taking a one-point lead, 57-56, at the 2:15 mark on a lay-up by Hanley.  Carpenter knocked down a jumper on the other end and the Lady Colonels never trailed again.

Eastern will be back in action on Saturday when it host OVC leader Tennessee-Martin.  Tip-off at McBrayer Arena is scheduled for 4 p.m.