Austin Peay Govs face Cougars in first round of OVC Tournament

By APSU Sports Information | February 28, 2018 |

Austin Peay vs. SIU Edwardsville

Thursday, March 1st, 2018 | 3:00pm CT
Evansville, IN | Ford Center

Clarksville, TN – The story continues for Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team in the 2017-18 season, as the Governors make their way to Evansville, IN for the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, 3:00pm, Thursday, March 1st against SIU Edwardsville.

Austin Peay Women’s Basketball travels to Evansville to play SIU Edwardsville in OVC Tournament action Thursday. (APSU Sports Information)

Déjà vu is the theme for head coach David Midlick and his Ohio Valley Conference Tournament experience. In 2016-17, the Governors faced UT Martin on a Thursday, in their third-straight OVC post season appearance. The previous Thursday, UT Martin had made their way to the Dunn Center for senior night.

New year, new opponent, same circumstances. SIUE was the opponent last Thursday, in the Governors’ final road game of the 2017-18 season, and now the Govs will get another shot at the Cougars, and this time it is win or go home.

The Govs are heading into the tournament winning three of their last five games, including an overtime thriller against conference rival Murray State, Saturday, on senior night.

Austin Peay, who finished the regular season with 16 wins, nine wins in conference play, has relied on their defensive pressure, forcing opponents into 15.7 turnovers per game and collecting 218 steals over the course of the most prolific regular season since 2003-04.

The patented Governor defense has been strong all season, but the offense seems to have finally found its rhythm after weathering some midseason storms.

Brianne Alexander will make her fourth OVC Tournament appearance, averaging 11.9 points per game and 5.6 rebounds in her senior season. Keisha Gregory and Falon Baker are also posting double figures scoring 10.5 and 10.1 points per game respectively.

The Govs are facing an SIUE team that took the early conference season by storm, but has suffered a few recent setbacks, losing three of their last four conference contests. The Cougars found a way to outlast the Govs when Austin Peay visited Edwardsville last week, but the Govs are coming off a potent offensive performance, looking to ride their aggressive playing style to the first postseason victory in the Midlick era.

APSU Storylines

Series Structure
The Govs are looking to stop a three-game losing streak against the Cougars, having dropped the conference opener December 28th and the final road game of the regular season February 21st. Austin Peay has faced SIUE on a neutral court one other time, falling to the Cougars in the OVC Tournament 69-72.

Career Nights
Arielle Gonzalez-Varner pulled down a career high 14 rebounds against the Racers, while Bri Williams dished out a season high seven assists against Murray State.

Double Digits
Three Governors scored in double digits against Murray State: Keisha Gregory (19), Brianne Alexander (18) and Falon Baker (18).

Tournament History
Austin Peay heads to the OVC Tournament for the fourth straight season, and third-straight season under head coach David Midlick. This is the second year in a row that Austin Peay will face a team that they met in the final week of the regular season. Last year the Govs played UT Martin in Clarksville on senior night, before facing them in the OVC Tournament.

Follow the APSU Govs

Be sure to follow all the Austin Peay women’s basketball action at LetsGoPeay.com and the official Facebook page of Austin Peay Athletics. In addition, live play-by-play coverage can be found on Twitter (@AustinPeayWBB) and live stats will be available at PeayStats.com. Saturday’s game can also be streamed for free on OVC Digital Network.

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