DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson Women's Basketball erased a 23-point deficit and surged late Saturday afternoon, but the rally came up just short as the Hatters fell 86-81 to Austin Peay at Insight Credit Union Arena on Alumni Day.
Stetson (11-8, 4-4 ASUN) forced 19 turnovers and turned them into 22 points, outscoring the Governors 26-16 in the fourth quarter to make it a one-possession game in the final minute. Austin Peay (12-5, 4-3 ASUN) built its cushion behind efficient second-quarter shooting and held on at the line down the stretch.
Austin Peay struck first, but the Hatters answered quickly as Aleah Sorrentino scored on an offensive rebound before Cameron Thomas knocked down a three-pointer to give Stetson a brief first-quarter lead. The teams traded runs early before the Governors closed the opening period on top, 21-17, despite a late last second three from Jorah Eppley that trimmed the margin.
The Governors took control in the second quarter, outscoring Stetson 28-16 to open up a 49-33 halftime advantage. Austin Peay connected from deep and capitalized on extra possessions, while Mary McMillan kept the Hatters within reach late in the half with a fast-break layup and free throw.
Stetson showed signs of life coming out of the break. After Austin Peay pushed its lead to 23 midway through the third quarter, the Hatters responded with a 9-0 run capped by a McMillan bucket to cut the deficit to 68-55 late in the frame. Stetson forced six turnovers in the quarter and trailed 70-55 entering the final 10 minutes.
The Hatters mounted a furious comeback in the fourth. Eppley opened the period with a three, and McMillan followed with a series of free throws and a jumper to continue chipping away. Promise Keshi sparked the rally with a steal and fast-break layup, and Thomas finished through contact to pull Stetson within six with under five minutes to play.
Stetson closed to within two possessions in the final minute, outscoring the Governors 26-16 in the quarter, but Austin Peay sealed the game at the free-throw line to escape with the 86-81 win.
Stetson returns to the road on Thursday, Jan. 29, traveling to North Alabama for a 7:00 PM ASUN matchup at CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall in Florence, Alabama. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, with live stats available on GoHatters.com. Fans can stay up to date by following Stetson Women's Basketball on social media.
TOP PERFORMERS
Mary McMillan
- 19 points
- 7 assists
- 7-of-10 free throws
Aleah Sorrentino
- 18 points
- 5 rebounds
- 1 three-pointer
Cameron Thomas
- 15 points
- 3 three-pointers
Promise Keshi
GAME NOTES
- Stetson forced 19 turnovers and scored 22 points off takeaways.
- The Hatters erased a 23-point deficit, one of the largest comeback attempts in program history.
- Stetson outscored Austin Peay 26-16 in the fourth quarter.
- Mary McMillan recorded her 10th game this season with five or more assists.
- Aleah Sorrentino scored 14+ points for the fourth straight game.
- Promise Keshi's four steals marked her third game this season with at least four.
