Austin Peay’s Dominant Defense Secures Victory Over Bellarmine Women’s Basketball
The Bellarmine University women’s basketball team had a rough outing against Austin Peay, falling 67-39 in Atlantic Sun Conference play. The Governors’ full-court pressure and quick defense really put Bellarmine on their heels, especially with the Knights dealing with injuries.
Even with the loss, a few Bellarmine players turned in memorable performances. Some hit personal bests, while others made promising first appearances.
Relentless Defense from Austin Peay
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Austin Peay’s defense set the tone right out of the gate. They pressed hard, forcing turnovers and turning those mistakes into points.
In just the first half, the Governors grabbed 20 points off turnovers. By the end, they’d racked up 29 points from Bellarmine’s miscues. Their aggressive approach threw off Bellarmine’s offense and made scoring look easy for Austin Peay.
First-Half Dominance
The opening half couldn’t have gone much worse for Bellarmine. Austin Peay not only forced mistakes but also shut down most scoring chances.
Offensively, the Governors were on fire. Out of their 44 first-half points, 36 came either in the paint or from deep. With defense and efficient shooting, Austin Peay jumped out to a big lead early.
Standout Performances for Bellarmine
There were a few bright spots for the Knights. Ava Smith put up a career-high 16 points, tying her best with four made threes. That’s the third time this season she’s done that—her shooting is no fluke.
Senior center Patricia Sherrill pulled down seven rebounds, giving Bellarmine some much-needed toughness inside.
Promising Debut
Freshman guard Mariah Daniels made her debut and wasted no time making an impression. She hit her first shot, a jumper from the corner, and showed she might be a real asset moving forward.
Austin Peay’s Team Effort
Austin Peay’s win really came down to everyone chipping in. Jade Rucker matched Smith with 16 points of her own.
The Governors moved the ball well, finishing with 17 assists on 25 made field goals. Their defense was everywhere, too, as they collected 16 steals. Honestly, it was tough to find a weak spot in their game.
Looking Ahead
Bellarmine now gets a chance to regroup. They’ll host Eastern Kentucky on Saturday at 2 p.m. (ET), with the game airing on 900 AM/107.3 FM.
It’s a fresh opportunity for the Knights to bounce back and maybe show a little more grit on their home floor.
Conclusion
The Bellarmine vs. Austin Peay game really showed how much a strong defense can change the flow. Austin Peay made the most of Bellarmine’s mistakes, and honestly, that pressure defense made things tough for Bellarmine all night.
Injuries didn’t help Bellarmine either. Still, a few players stepped up, and some new faces actually had pretty solid debuts.
With Eastern Kentucky coming up, Bellarmine gets a shot to regroup. Maybe they’ll take a few lessons from this loss and sharpen their teamwork.
Want a deeper dive into the game or Bellarmine’s schedule? Check out the official Bellarmine athletics website.