Jan. 14, 2006

Final Stats |  Photo Gallery

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Saturday, January 14, 2006) Those awaiting for the Redhawks women's basketball team to start playing like the team that they were billed to be in the preseason got their wish on Saturday evening as they stopped the hottest team in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 72-54 victory over Austin Peay at the Show Me Center. The win snapped the Lady Govs six-game winning streak and gave the Redhawks their second-straight victory.

The Redhawks (8-7, 5-3 OVC) used a 23-6 run to open the second half to take command of the game after the Redhawks held a one-point advantage at the half.

The Lady Govs (7-8, 4-4 OVC) were held scoreless for over four minutes as the Redhawks scored 12 unanswered in that span.

The Redhawks bench spurred the run as they accounted for eight of the 12 points and played smothering defense that swarmed and gave the Lady Govs top player Ashley Haynes fits all game.

The Redhawks shot 59-percent in the second half and held the Lady Govs to 35-percent.

Turnovers were key as the Redhawks forced 22 turnovers to account for 25 points.

The first half was a low scoring affair as it featured five lead changes and four ties. The Lady Govs at one point held a nine point advantage, 19-10 with eleven minutes left till half but the Redhawks outscored the Lady Govs 18-8 for the 28-27 halftime advantage.

Meanwhile the Redhawks featured a balanced scoring attack with five players in double figures. Simone Jackson (Kingston, Jamaica/Southeastern Illinois CC) scored a team-high 13 points while pulling down six rebounds.

Natalie Purcell (Auckland, New Zealand/Hutchinson CC) scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Tatiana Conceicao (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Western Nebraska CC) and Wanika Owsley (Indianapolis, IN/Southeastern Illinois CC) each added 10 points.

Owsley also finished with a game-high four assists.

Senior Katrisha Dunn (Dallas, TX/Eastern Oklahoma State College) came off the bench to score 10 clutch points. The 10 points are just one off her season high.

Lachelle Lyles (Chicago, IL/Shelton State CC) recorded a game-high eight rebounds (four offensive) and scored four points.

Haynes who had entered the game averaging a double-double and ranked third nationally in rebounding was held to just 10 points and six rebounds. The collective defensive efforts of Jackson and Purcell were key in her poor shooting night as she made only four of her 10 attempts.

Saundra Hale led all scorers with 19 points on 6-12 shooting (3-5 from three-point range).

The Redhawks hit the road again as they embark on a two-game road trip starting with winless Tennessee State on Thursday, January 19. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. in Nashville, Tennessee.