EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team dropped their first home game of the season on Sunday, falling to visiting Austin Peay by a score of 63-57. After facing a five-point deficit at the half, the Aces battled back to tie the game at 43 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Govs outscored the Aces 20-14 in the final period to take the win.
Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind./Hamilton Heights) led the Aces in scoring for the seventh time this season, scoring 14 points. Runner was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line and has made 19 consecutive free throws dating back to November 30. Logan Luebbers Palmer (Union, Ky./Randall K. Cooper) added 12 points for the Aces for her eighth double-digit scoring effort of the season. Jelena Savic (Melbourne, Australia/Kurunjang Secondary College) scored nine points and grabbed a season-high six rebounds in 20 solid minutes off the bench.
Mireia Mustaros (Barcelona, Spain/Ins Argentona) got the Aces going early, converting two free throws and a layup to give her team a 4-0 lead. However, the Govs responded with an 8-0 run to grab the lead with 4:48 remaining in the opening quarter. Despite briefly grabbing the lead back on a three-pointer from Luebbers Palmer with just under two minutes remaining in the quarter, Austin Peay took a four-point lead heading into the second quarter on a three on the quarter’s final possession.
The Govs continued to control things in the second quarter, taking a 25-16 lead with 5:38 to go in the period. A pair of perfect trips to the line by Sydney Huber (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Mount Vernon) and Luebbers Palmer brought the Aces back within five, while an and-one layup by Georgia Ferguson made the score 26-22 with 3:07 to go in the half. Austin Peay responded with a five-point burst to bring their lead back up to nine, but the Aces finished the half strong with a triple from Savic on the final possession of the quarter, making it 31-26 at the break.
Evansville quickly evened the score, using a three from Huber and a fast break layup by Runner on the Aces’ first two possessions coming out of the locker room. The Govs and Aces traded baskets over the next several minutes, with Luebbers Palmer knocking down a three and Ferguson converting a layup, but the Govs used a triple to regain a 40-36 advantage with 5:13 to play in the third. Evansville dug in defensively over the next five minutes of play, limiting Austin Peay to three points for the rest of the quarter, while Savic and Runner sunk four free throws and Luebbers Palmer drilled another shot from distance to make it a 43-43 ballgame heading into the fourth quarter.
Austin Peay regained their offensive footing in the fourth quarter, scoring five points on their first four possessions of the quarter to retake the lead. BreAunna Ward (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) knocked down a jumper and added a free throw to bring the Aces back within two, while Huber answered a Govs three with a three of her own to keep it a one-possession game with 5:29 remaining. However, Austin Peay responded with a 9-3 run over the next five minutes game action to open up a nine-point lead and would hang on from there, securing a 63-57 win.
The Aces open up MVC play on Wednesday, heading to Nashville for a clash with Belmont. Tip-off is set for 6:30 PM.
