CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Shooting 14-of-16 from the free throw line in the second half, the Lipscomb University women's basketball team held off a late rally by Austin Peay State University, as the Bisons defeated the Governors by a score of 65-59, Saturday from F&M Bank Arena. 

Final Score: Lipscomb 65, Austin Peay 59
Location: Clarksville, Tennessee (F&M Bank Arena)
Records: Lipscomb (15-8, 8-4), Austin Peay (10-13, 5-7)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Austin Peay got the opening score on the opening tip with a Sa'Maya Wyatt layup, but the Governors went on a four-plus minute scoring drought, as the bisons used nine straight points to take the lead, 9-2. 

Ahead 11-4, the Bisons finished the quarter on a 8-2 run thanks to two Jalyn Holcomb 3-pointers and led 19-6 after 10 minutes. 

Despite the lack of field goals on either side, Molly Heard made it a 22-6 lead with 7:14 left in the second half that forced Austin Peay to burn a timeout. 

Unfortunately, the  Govs scored 10 straight points after the stoppage and cut the deficit to 22-16 with 3:12 remaining. However, a fast break layup by Bella Vinson and a Molly Heard triple made it a nine-point advantage, 30-21, at the break. 

The third period saw the Bisons improve the lead to double figures with free throws by Heard. However, the Governors made two straight field goals to cut the deficit back to six that forced a Lipscomb timeout. Later, APSU trimmed it down to one with a Wyatt jumper. 

Lipscomb did restore order from there, as Holcomb drilled two triples to make it a 44-39 advantage after three quarters. 

In the fourth quarter, the Bisons got the offense rolling thanks to Claira McGowan, who scored seven of Lipscomb's first 10 points, including a bit three-pointer off a second chance opportunity at the 7:29 mark. 

APSU did cut the Lipscomb cushion to four on back-to-back scores from Wyatt, but McGowan's floating jumper as the shot clock expired with 5:11 made it a six-point advantage. 

Along with a Heard triple with 3:03 left, The Bisons kept the lead at the charity stripe, as they went 8-of-8 in the quarter to hold off a late Govs rally. 

KEY STATISTICS
Jalyn Holcomb knocked down five triples and finished with a team-high 17 points in the victory. She also added eight boards and three assists. 

Molly Heard added 14 points with two steals and blocks each, while Bella Vinson knocked down 6-of-6 from the charity stripe and totaled 13 points, three assists and steals each and five boards. 

Claira McGowan scored nine of her 11 points in the fourth quarter, and Ainhoa Cea grabbed seven boards with five dimes and two thefts. 

HERD NOTES
Lipscomb knocked down 18-of-21 from the charity stripe in the win on the road. The 18 free throws are the most the Bisons have scored in a game this season. 

UP NEXT
Lipscomb will return for a quick two-game home stand, starting with Bellarmine on Thursday at 5 p.m. from Allen Arena.