CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University's women's basketball team fell 64-52 in their season opener against Bethel, Monday, on Gary Mathews Court at F&M Bank Arena. 

Both teams were scoreless until free throws by Bethel's Hallie Turner nearly two minutes into the game. La'Nya Foster tied the game with a jumper with 7:54 remaining. The Lady Wildcats retook the lead at 4-2 with 6:58 left in the first quarter, sparking a scoring drought from both teams, which was ended by a three-pointer by Kylie Reynolds from a Governor turnover, making the score 7-2 with four and a half minutes remaining. A layup by Nisea Burrell would be the last basket of the quarter for the Govs as Bethel would end the first quarter with a three-pointer and fast-break layup to take the 12-4 lead into the second quarter. 

The Governors opened the second frame by scoring 13 points in the first three minutes to take their first lead at 17-16. A three-pointer from Briana Rivera, quickly followed by a layup and free throw by Jenny Ntambwe, would extend the Governors' lead to 23-18 with five and a half minutes left to play in the half. The Lady Wildcats would get as close as five points to the Govs at 25-20, but the Governors ended the second quarter on an 11-5 run to take an 11-point lead at 36-25 going into halftime. 

The two teams exchanged points to begin the third quarter with a free-throw by Foster with 6:30 remaining, which gave them a 13-point lead at 42-29. A Governor scoring drought from 5:42-1:28 allowed the Lady Wildcats to cut their deficit to six points at 43-37. APSU ended their drought with a three-pointer from Rivera and a jumper from inside the paint by Anala Nelson, extending the Govs' lead to 10 at 48-38 with 33 seconds left in the third quarter. The Lady Wildcats ended the quarter with a three-pointer at the buzzer to get within seven points of the Govs at 48-41 going into the final quarter. 

The Governors were scoreless until a driving layup from the paint by Burrell with 2:45 remaining allowed Bethel to take the lead by four at 54-50. The Lady Wildcats ended the game on a 10-2 run, taking the 64-52 win.

Up next, the Governors travel down I-24 to face Vanderbilt in a 6:30 p.m., Friday game at Memorial Gymnasium. 

THE DIFFERENCE

The fourth quarter. The Lady Wildcats outscored the Govs 23-4 as they held the Govs to an 11.1 shooting percentage, their lowest of the night. The fourth quarter was Bethel's most efficient of the game, with a 46.2 shooting percentage. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• La'Nya Foster paced the Govs with 14 points and nine rebounds.
• Briana Rivera had three three-pointers. 
• Foster and Anala Nelson both had two assists.
• Nelson extended her starting streak to 62, and Foster extended hers to 15.