APSU ended its season series against Morehead State in a sweep on Valentine’s Day. The Govs 84-75 victory pushed them past the .500 mark in conference play.
Morehead State (19-8, 9-4 OVC) were unable to obtain their 10th conference win of the season, while the Govs (12-12, 7-6 OVC) earned their seventh win and now sit at fifth in the conference right behind Morehead.
APSU volleyball star turned basketball player Logan Carger scored her first points for the Govs on a made three-pointer in the contest. It was one of nine made three-pointers made in the first half.
Keisha Gregory had a big scoring per usual. The senior finished the game with 21 points on eight attempts. Arielle Gonzalez-Varner finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Both teams got off to a break-neck pace to begin the contest as the two Ohio Valley Conference rivals combined for 54 points in the first quarter alone. Despite excellent shooting from the Govs in the first quarter Morehead state only trailed by two points entering the second quarter.
APSU posed a second straight 20 plus point quarter finishing with 23 points. They only surrendered 17 to take an eight-point advantage into the locker room at the half. The first basket of the second quarter was not so surprisingly a three-pointer by Gregory. The Govs only made one out of their next nine shots allowing Morehead to stay in the game.
From the first half to second the teams cooled off tremendously.
“It was no different of strategy in the three-point shooting and we needed them in the first half because they (Morehead) were hot as well. We were fortunate enough to be 9-20 on threes in the first half, but only 1-10 in the second half. Our defensive effort in the second half was good as can be against a really good offensive team.” Dave Midlick told letsgopeay.com.
The third quarter marked the only time the Govs were outscored in the evening. It was by one point.
Both defenses settled in and the Govs only allowed 32 in the second half compared to 43 in the first. The Govs, however, were held to 3-14 shooting in the third.
In the fourth quarter, APSU held the Eagles scoreless for nearly five minutes.
Despite big scoring nights from McKenzie Calvert, 27 points, the Eagles fell short and at the same time dropped in the conference standings. APSU will host Southeast Missouri on Thursday, Feb. 21
