Otahks fall into Austin Peay's 16-game win streak

Austin Peay's women continued their record-setting season Saturday night with a stirring comeback victory over Southeast Missouri State University.

The Governors won their school-record 16th consecutive game, extended their school record for victories and clinched the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title by beating the Otahkians 80-78 at the Show Me Center.

Austin Peay improved to 21-3 overall and 13-0 in OVC play. Southeast, playing its final regular-season home game, fell to 15-9 and 9-5. The Otahkians remained third in the nine-team league.

"It's been a fun season so far," Austin Peay coach Susie Gardner said. "We have a great group of kids, and they work hard."

The Govs had to work extra hard to overcome one of Southeast's top performances of the season after the Otahkians led almost the entire game.

"They played exceptional. They were on a mission, you could see it," Gardner said of the Otahkians. "They took it to us."

Southeast coach B.J. Smith was naturally disappointed with the loss but said he was encouraged by the Otahkians after several recent subpar performances.

"It's the best game we've played in a while, maybe all year," Smith said. "We just don't want to play well, we want to win. But I told the girls we're close. Our girls think we can play with Austin Peay."

Austin Peay senior guard Brooke Armistead, one of the OVC's top players the last four seasons, led all scorers with 28 points, 19 in the first half. She hit 10 of 16 field-goal attempts.

Junior forward Gerlonda Hardin, one of the OVC's strongest inside players, added 23 points for the Govs, 19 in the second half. She hit 11 of 18 shots as Austin Peay shot 62.7 percent as a team.

"Armistead had a big first half, but I thought we got her under control in the second half," Smith said. "Hardin hurt us in the second half."

Southeast, which shot 46.7 percent, got 15 points from junior point guard Sarah Costello, 13 from junior forward Carina Souza and 12 from senior forward Lori Chase.

Costello was off to a strong start when she picked up her third foul less than nine minutes into the first half and had to sit out the rest of the period. At the time, the Otahkians led 24-12, matching their biggest advantage of the game.

"Sarah getting into foul trouble hurt us," Smith said. "She can really create and make things happen."

The Otahkians only led 42-37 at halftime thanks primarily to Armistead's hot hand.

"Brooke really came to play," Gardner said.

Southeast never could pull away from Austin Peay in the second half, and the Otahkians' lead never got into double figures in the final period.

But the Otahkians stayed on top until just 2:14 remained as Armistead's fast-break layup gave the Govs their first lead of the contest at 74-73.

The lead changed hands four times after that. Costello's steal and layup with 57 seconds remaining put the Otahkians ahead for the final time at 77-76.

Hardin scored inside with 42 seconds left for a 78-77 Austin Peay lead. After Costello missed a shot, Armistead made one of two free throws with nine seconds to play, making it 79-77.

Southeast junior guard Kenja White was then fouled on a strong drive to the basket with 2.6 seconds left. She made the first free throw but missed the second, keeping the Govs ahead by a point. Hardin added a foul shot with 0.2 seconds remaining, and Southeast didn't have enough time left to get off a last attempt.

"They gave us their best effort. They're a great team, and they came to play," Armistead said. "I don't know how we ended up winning."

Added Smith, "I thought it was a really good game. I wish we would have won, but hopefully we can keep getting better, and maybe we'll get another shot at them in the conference tournament."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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