The Govs and Lady Govs were in action on Saturday, Feb. 16, against the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars in a double header. The Lady Govs were first to take on the Lady Cougars and the Lady Govs were looking to end a three game losing streak and get another OVC win.
The Lady Govs and Lady Cougars traded baskets in the early minutes of the game, but just under the 13 minute-mark, the Lady Govs began to pull away and did not relinquish the lead for the rest of the first half. The Lady Govs applied continuous pressure on the Lady Cougars, forcing 15 turnovers in the first half and making clutch shots as well. The Lady Govs were making almost 50 percent of their shots and from three-point land as well.
The first half shooting attack for the Lady Govs was led by Tiasha Gray with eight first-half points and Meghan Bussabarger with 13. The Lady Cougars had no answer for the Lady Govs’ offensive and defensive attack in the first half, so the Lady Govs took a commanding 36-22 lead into halftime. The overall attack on the Lady Cougars did not cease in the second half. The Lady Govs kept pressure on the Lady Cougars. The Lady Govs managed to push their lead up to 20 before the Lady Cougars went to full court press and caused turnovers.
Along with the turnovers, the Lady Govs went on a cold shooting streak for almost six minutes, and in that time the Lady Cougars clawed back to within 10 and even cut the lead to single digits at one point. Just as the Lady Cougars might have had a feeling of hope, the Lady Govs pulled away once again by getting past the Lady Cougars’ pressure defense and with good shooting by Gray and Bussabager, who led in scoring with 15 and 26 points.
The Lady Govs fended off the Lady Cougars to get a much-needed win and their second OVC victory of the season with a score of 67-53.
The Govs were looking to get two victories in a row against the Cougars, coming off a victory against Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Feb. 14. The Govs jumped on early and kept their foot on the gas. Just under the 11 minute-mark, the Govs were already up by 22.
Over 50 percent of the shots from the field and behind the arch made their presence on the score board, the Govs seemed to do no wrong in the first half.
The Edwardsville natives Anthony Campbell and Will Triggs showed out for their homecoming with a combined total of 18 points, seven rebounds, one assist and one steal in the first half.
The Govs’ biggest lead was 22 in the first half, and they took a 16 point lead into halftime. The Govs jumped all over the Cougars in the second half, pushing the lead to 24 in the early minutes.
The Cougars cut the lead down, but a full comeback was shut down by the Govs’ defense, led by Chris Horton, who broke APSU’s block record by getting seven blocks in the game, only needing six to break the record. The Govs coasted into a second straight victory and their third OVC victory with a final score of 83-71.
