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The storylines in Monday's loss echoed many of the same themes as its previous losses - surrendering a first-half lead and losing the rebounding battle. Yet a new twist emerged as Austin Peay struggled defensively against a Southeast Missouri team that entered the game ranked last among OVC schools in offensive production.
For the fourth straight game, Austin Peay (5-18, 2-8 OVC) surrendered a lead late in the first half. Austin Peay led 22-19 with 7:53 left in the first but watched Southeast Missouri piece together a 16-6 run the rest of the way to take a 35-28 halftime lead.
Austin Peay also lost the rebounding battle despite junior Kaitlyn Hill entering the starting lineup. The Lady Govs led the battle 10-8 with 7:53 left in the first but were outrebounded the rest of the way. Southeast Missouri finished the game with a 43-31 rebounding edge as Austin Peay recorded only four offensive rebounds.
"Our rebounding was really disappointing, said Lady Govs head coach Carrie Daniels. "With us shooting 39 percent for the game and only grabbing four offensive rebounds we didn't have the second and third chance opportunities at the basket. Southeast Missouri limited us to one-and-done on our trips and that can't happen if you want to win a ballgame.
But adding to those woes was a sub-par defensive effort that allowed Southeast Missouri (5-17, 2-7 OVC) to post its second-best offensive effort this season. The Redhawks used their 14 offensive rebounds to score 12 second-chance points. That effort on the glass helped Southeast Missouri overcome a 39.7 percent shooting effort.
"We didn't have the defensive effort we needed to win this game, said Daniels. "When we were in our man-to-man we were giving up penetration - they were getting into the lane too easily. When we switched it up into the zone we got them to take the shots we wanted them to, but we weren't boxing out and getting the long rebounds. It was like a two-headed monster we couldn't beat tonight."
Hill, who had double-doubles in APSU's last two games, led the Lady Govs with 16 points, scoring eight in each half, but had only two rebounds.
"Kaitlyn has done a good job in these last three games," said Daniels. "She has stepped up and made some big plays for us. We're getting some much-needed production from her when we're short on the bench."
Whitney Hanley scored 15 points on a 7-of-17 shooting effort. Jasmine Rayner added 10 points. Leslie Martinez had a team-best five rebounds.
"Whitney battled for us tonight, Southeast Missouri keyed on her and she got frustrated but was still able to produce a good effort," Daniels said. "But I believe Leslie really brought a lot of energy and did a lot of little things to try and help us tonight. She finished with seven points and five rebounds but she was worth more than that tonight."
Allyson Bradshaw was the thorn in Austin Peay's side, making all five of Southeast Missouri's three pointers and finishing with a game-high 17 points. Brittany Harriel, the Redhawks leading scorer entering the night, added 15 points. Bailie Roberts chipped in a 10-point, 13-rebound effort.
"Bradshaw made us pay," said Daniels. "You have to credit her, she made five threes. After the first couple we told our players we needed to find her. But give her a lot of credit she stepped up and made some big shots."
Austin Peay will have little time for reflection as it will spend Tuesday preparing for its third game in five days when it hosts UT Martin in a 7 p.m., Wednesday contest at the Dunn Center.
