» By TRENT SINGER – tsinger@my.apsu.edu
The Lady Govs won an overtime thriller on Saturday, Feb. 18, against conference rival Morehead State, 88-81, at APSU’s annual Peaynk game, in support of the fight against breast cancer.
Although she only logged 27 minutes from the bench, freshman guard Shira Buley came alive late in the game, scoring eight of the team’s 12 overtime points and sealing an important late-season home game.
Junior forward Leslie Martinez scored 20 points and 14 rebounds in the winning effort and marks her third double-double as a Lady Govs player. Senior guard Whitney Hanley finished the game with 22 points and continued her average as a top-five Ohio Valley Conference leading scorer. Junior center Kaitlyn Hill added 13 points.
The Lady Govs won by outrebounding Morehead State, 39-29, and shooting an impressive 27-of-34 from the free-throw line.
Despite being ahead by 10 points midway through the first half, the Lady Govs managed to rally back and tie the game at 39 going into the half.
Throughout the second half, the Lady Govs held the lead for all but the final two minutes of the period. With 13 seconds remaining in regulation, Morehead State’s Courtney Lumpkin hit a game-tying three-pointer to send the game into overtime tied at 76.
In overtime, Buley scored five consecutive points that shifted the momentum to the Lady Govs and helped secure a much-needed victory for her team.
The Lady Govs hope to head into the OVC tournament on a positive note and extend their win streak to three, something the team hasn’t done in regular season play since last February.
They will face a tough road test this week against the first-place Skyhawks in Martin on Thursday, Feb. 23. Two days later, the Govs finish the season at home against Southeast Missouri on Saturday, Feb. 25. TAS
