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Governors dominate both ends in wire-to-wire win over SIUE





Austin Peay’s Yamia Johnson drives to the basket against SIUE forward Kelsie Williams (54).ROBERT SMITH/APSU ATHLETICS

Austin Peay’s Yamia Johnson drives to the basket against SIUE forward Kelsie Williams (54).ROBERT SMITH/APSU ATHLETICS

Preparing for a rescheduled basketball game can be difficult, but the Austin Peay women’s basketball team showed no signs of the Mondays during their 76-55 beatdown of the SIUE Cougars.

Originally scheduled for Jan. 6, the game was moved to Jan. 17 after COVD protocols barred the Cougars from playing on the original date.

On top of it being an abnormal weekday for a game, it was also a prominent holiday in the basketball community, and the Governors took being able to play on Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a special privilege.

“(Playing on Monday) is definitely a rare thing,” said APSU head coach Brittany Young. “But we took it as more of an honor to be able to play on MLK Day. Normally you’re at home and you’re watching a lot of games, a lot of top teams or NBA teams play.

“We did talk before the game about using tonight to honor people that came before us and made that sacrifice, whether it’s our grandparents, parents. There’s people who went through struggles so that our team, as assembled now, could play the way we are able to play today.”

Austin Peay guard Ella Sawyer (4) fights for a loose ball with SIUE guard Gabby Nikitinaite (0).ROBERT SMITH/APSU ATHLETICS

Austin Peay guard Ella Sawyer (4) fights for a loose ball with SIUE guard Gabby Nikitinaite (0).ROBERT SMITH/APSU ATHLETICS

The Governors were dominant on both ends. Their 76 points scored is a new season-high against Division I opponents, and a dazzling display of sharing the rock enabled them to shoot 51.7% from the field. Two-thirds of their made field goals were assisted on, and seven different players were credited as a helping-hand. Ella Sawyer led the group with seven dimes. Eight different players scored.

“It’s much more fun when you’re getting your team involved and sharing the ball, moving the ball,” said forward Yamia Johnson. “It gives you that energy – you pass that energy to your teammate. They’re scoring okay, we’re good.”

Johnson led the team in scoring once again, scoring 19 points. It’s the 16th straight game in which she recorded double-digits in points. Karle Pace (15) and D’Shara Booker (12) reached the mark as well.

Their defense was equally as impressive, if not moreso. The Cougars made 20 shots, shooting 38% from the field, and coughed up 24 turnovers.

Austin Peay head coach Brittany Young talks with the team during a timeout.ROBERT SMITH/APSU ATHLETICS

Austin Peay head coach Brittany Young talks with the team during a timeout.ROBERT SMITH/APSU ATHLETICS

“We really just wanted to stay solid defensively,” Young said. “It’s our third game in five days. We didn’t really pick up a lot of full court which we do at times. The biggest thing we knew was they’re a team that wants the paint, that’s going to put their head down and look to attack. We just wanted to make sure that we put on a better showing than Saturday, where we allowed some uncharacteristic open layups on drives. I thought that we did that overall.”

Twenty-six of the team’s points came off turnovers, and half of those were fast break points. The Governors also dominated in the paint, outsourcing the Cougars 42 to 22 down low.

Outside of the first 28 seconds of the game leading up to the first points being scored, Austin Peay led the entire way, never having to play from behind.

Now 4-2 in the OVC, the Governors will look to avenge an earlier loss against the UT Martin Skyhawks on Thursday, Jan. 20.

Austin Peay forward D’Shara Booker (11) shoots over SIUE forward Kelsie Williams (54).ROBERT SMITH/APSU ATHLETICS

Austin Peay forward D’Shara Booker (11) shoots over SIUE forward Kelsie Williams (54).ROBERT SMITH/APSU ATHLETICS

BOX SCORE

SIUE (55): Jaida Hampton 14, Prima Chellis 9, Allie Troeckler 9, Sofie Lowis 6, Gabby Nikitinaite 6, Kelsie Williams 6, Mikia Keith 3, Ajulu Thatha 2.

Austin Peay (76): Yamia Johnson 19, Karle Pace 15, D’Shara Booker 12, Shay-Lee Kirby 9, Liz Gibbs 9, Lyric Cole 6, Nina De Leon Negron 4, Ella Sawyer 2.

Austin Peay guard Karle Pace (1) shoots over SIUE guard Sofie Lowis (24).ROBERT SMITH/APSU ATHLETICS

Austin Peay guard Karle Pace (1) shoots over SIUE guard Sofie Lowis (24).ROBERT SMITH/APSU ATHLETICS

Austin Peay guard Yamia Johnson (24) shoots over SIUE forward Kelsie Williams (54) for 2 of her 19 points.ROBERT SMITH/APSU ATHLETICS

Austin Peay guard Yamia Johnson (24) shoots over SIUE forward Kelsie Williams (54) for 2 of her 19 points.ROBERT SMITH/APSU ATHLETICS

 

 

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