ASU Women Cruise to 75-44 Victory Over Austin Peay

Courtesy: ArkansasState Athletics Department

JONESBORO, Ark. (12/17/12) – The Arkansas State women’s basketball team won its second straight home game with 75-44 victory over Austin Peay Monday night at the Convocation Center.

A-State (3-7) shot a season high 55.8 percent from the field and defense forced a season high 22 turnovers on the night on its way to its largest margin of victory on the year.

Junior Jane Morrill led ASU with 14 points, while senior guard Ashley Olvera added 13. Hanna Qedan finished with career highs in points (12), blocks (3) and steals (2), while junior Carlisha Wyatt grabbed a career best 14 rebounds.

“The players had fun tonight and we got everybody involved,” ASU head coach Brian Boyer said. “There is no question that we have challenged this team with a difficult schedule and we spent a lot of time on the road and our record reflects that, but I feel like this team has done a good job of keeping their heads up and staying focused on the task and I think tonight showed that a little bit.”

Qedan fueled the ASU attack in the first half by scoring nine points and grabbing six rebounds. She scored five straight points to give the Red Wolves a 17-14 lead with 9:20 to go in the half and also blocked three shots.

ASU shot a season high 55.8 percent from the field by working the ball inside to its post players and attacking the basket off the dribble. Morrill went 5-of-7 from the field on the night, while Qedan and Olvera were each 5-of-6.

Defensively, ASU held Austin Peay (3-7) to a season low 27 percent field goal percentage and forced the Lady Governors to commit costly mistakes, which the Red Wolves converted into easy points on fast break opportunities.

ASU outscored Austin Peay 18-7 in the first seven minutes of the second half to build a 49-27 lead. Morrill took advantage of her size underneath the basket, while Qedan and Olvera knocked down jump shots to help the ASU lead swell to 49-27 with 13:27 left in the game.

The Red Wolves led by as many as 35 with 2:22 to go thanks a big night from its bench. ASU played 14 players on the night, 11 of which scored. Freshman Jessica Flanery knocked down a career best three, 3-pointers to finish with nine points to help the A-State bench outscore Austin Peay 27-16.

“We talk about have young talent and I think tonight is an example of that,” Boyer said. “We go deep on our bench with a lot of freshman and we still extended the lead with them and that is a good sign.”

ASU will return to action Wednesday, Dec. 19 for an 11:30 a.m. tipoff against Nicholls State at the Convocation Center.