CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Meeting for the first time in program history, Stetson and Austin Peay battled with the home side edging out a slim victory over the Hatters, 50-46, Saturday afternoon in the Winfield Dunn Center.
Stetson (7-9, 1-2 ASUN) looked good in streaks, but could not get shots to fall in the closing minutes. Austin Peay (7-6, 2-1 ASUN) picked up its first ASUN home win.
Stetson jumped out to a quick lead after
Sydney Gouard and
Jamiya Turner notched two buckets in the paint over the first 57 seconds of the game. The Governors tied the game at four as the battle between the sides heated up with AP building a lead, going up by as much as seven points [15-8 with 1:57 left in the first].
Jordan Peete and
Anabel Ellison nailed threes on back-to-back offensive possessions cutting the deficit to three, 17-14, after one quarter.
Austin Peay's Anala Nelson hit a three 24 seconds into the quarter and then Stetson defense clamped down on the Governors. AP scored four points over the following 9:36 with only one more field goal. The Hatters forced nine turnovers, gave up no offensive rebounds.
The game tightened for the final half as both teams made adjustments with neither side scoring more than 14 points in a quarter in the final half. The Hatters attempted to keep the Governors held back, but a three with 6:09 put the home side in front 31-30.
Jaelyn Talley made a layup on the following possession to put Stetson back in front. The Govs pushed in front a final time, but the scored would be tied a total of four times over the third frame including a tie off a made layup by Gouard with two seconds left.
With a deadlock entering the final quarter, with points becoming more crucial by the second, the teams were within one possession until Austin Peay went up four, 48-44, after two free throws at the 1:25 mark. Talley cut the deficit to two with 65 seconds left [48-46]. On the following AP possession, the Hatters defense swarmed, and the Governors could not get a shot off and turned over the ball on a shot-clock violation. Taking over with 36 seconds left, down two, the Hatters went for quick points, but J. Turner missed a layup with 27 seconds with AP getting the rebound and calling timeout. Forced to foul to extend the game, the Govs converted their free throws and Stetson could not get their shots to fall down the stretch falling four points short of the opposition.
Ellison and J. Turner both scored in double figures with 10 apiece. Gouard pulled a team-high seven rebounds with McNeal collecting six. The Hatter defense forced 24 Governor turnovers.
The Hatters return to DeLand for two home games, starting with Central Arkansas on Thursday at 7 p.m., with North Alabama rounding out the week on Saturday with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS (PDF).
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