CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team couldn't overcome a slow start in falling 67-54 to Austin Peay State on Sunday at the Winfield Dunn Center.
Austin Peay (4-3), which will be joining Bellarmine (1-7) in the ASUN next season, rode a dominant first quarter to the win. The Governors outscored the Knights 29-8 in the frame, with 13 points coming after eight Bellarmine turnovers in the period.
Bellarmine outscored Austin Peay the rest of the way, but the Knights never got closer than 10, with their chances of winning ultimately undermined by the lackluster beginning.
"I don't think we were focused mentally on what we were doing out there," Knights Coach
Chancellor Dugan said. "That was very disappointing."
Senior guard
Kathleen Scott and junior guard
Jaela Johnson notched 14 points apiece for Bellarmine. Sophomore forward
Lucy Robertson grabbed a career-high eight rebounds, and senior forward
Sheniqua Coatney tied a career high with three blocks. Lyric Cole's 16 points and 11 rebounds highlighted Austin Peay's individual performances.
Bellarmine's best stretch of play came in the second quarter, when senior guard
Bailee Harney and Scott both drained deep 3-pointers in an 8-0 run, and later senior guard
Presley Brown scored five points during a 7-0 spurt that trimmed the deficit to 10 with 1:14 left before halftime.
Austin Peay scored the last four points of the half to lead 40-26 at the break, and Bellarmine never mounted a serious threat in the second half.
Bellarmine will host Spalding at 6:30 p.m. (ET) Thursday in Freedom Hall.
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