Southern Illinois University Edwardsville women’s basketball more than doubled up its first-half offense in Monday’s second half but fell to visiting Austin Peay 77-67 at the Vadalabene Center.

Tierny Austin / Photo by SIUE Sports Information

Tierny Austin recorded her fourth double-double of the season with a game-high 21 points and 11 rebounds. Austin, a junior, became the 30th player in school history to record 800 points.

“If everyone on our team played with the passion, intensity, and work ethic that Tierny plays with, we’d be okay,” said SIUE Head Coach Paula Buscher. “She plays hard and plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played.”

Austin Peay, 6-13 overall and 3-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference, used a 27-4 run in the first half to jump out to a 24-point lead. The Cougars cut the lead to 42-22 by halftime.

SIUE, 5-14 overall and 2-5 in the OVC, committed 17 of its 20 turnovers in the first half. Austin Peay converted those turnovers into 20 points on offense.

“We have to show up and play,” said Buscher. “We did not play Cougar basketball in the first half.  We didn’t play good defense, and all of the turnovers killed us.”

The Cougars used a season-high 45 points in the second half to chip away at the lead.Jessie Wendt finished with 11 points and Raven Warford added 10.

Four players scored in double figures for Austin Peay. Tiasha Gray and Tearra Babnks combined for 39 points off the bench. Starters Kristen Stainback and Nicole Olszewski scored 15 and 12 points, respectively. The Governors shot 46 percent for the game.

“We didn’t pay attention to the scouting report and what we were supposed to do.  That’s not how you get it done,” Buscher said.