CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Ines Gnahore scored 23 points to lead Austin Peay to an 82-41 women’s basketball victory over Bellarmine on Saturday at Winfield Dunn Center. The Governors dominated throughout, improving to 15-11. The Knights fell to 2-27. Gnahore, a guard from Orleans, France, added seven rebounds in 32 minutes. Mya Williams contributed 20 points and five assists for Austin Peay, while Anovia Sheals had 10 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Ava Smith led Bellarmine with 15 points. Andrea Chiquemba added 13 points and six rebounds. Austin Peay previously defeated Bellarmine 67-39 on Jan. 15.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — In a dominant performance fueled by a stifling defense and a career-high scoring effort from Ines Gnahore, the Austin Peay Governors routed the Bellarmine Knights 82-41 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at the Winfield Dunn Center. The game was effectively decided by a devastating first-half stretch where Austin Peay’s defensive pressure overwhelmed Bellarmine. The Governors forced 27 turnovers for the game, converting them into 33 points, while committing only eight of their own. The disparity in ball control and shot creation was stark, as Austin Peay also piled up a 19-4 advantage in steals and a 19-4 edge in assists. The most important sequence of the contest came late in the first quarter and throughout the second, transforming a competitive opening into a lopsided affair. Leading just 9-6 midway through the first, Austin Peay unleashed a 26-6 run that spanned into the second quarter, building a 35-12 lead. The run was emblematic of the entire game: fueled by Bellarmine turnovers, capitalized on by efficient Austin Peay offense, and highlighted by the play of Gnahore and backcourt mate Mya Williams. Gnahore, a guard from Orleans, France, was the catalyst, scoring 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including three 3-pointers, and adding seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in 32 minutes. Her performance marked a significant rebound from recent outings where she had scored a combined four points over her last two games. Williams, from Waxahachie, Texas, provided a potent complement with 20 points, five assists and five steals in just 19 minutes off the bench. Austin Peay’s offensive rating of 112.9 points per 100 possessions dwarfed Bellarmine’s mark of 60.5, illustrating the chasm in efficiency. The Governors shot 43.1% from the field and 34.4% from 3-point range, while the Knights managed just 38.5% overall. Austin Peay also dominated the glass, particularly on the offensive end with a 14-2 advantage, leading to 18 second-chance points. Bellarmine, which fell to 2-27 overall, was led by Ava Smith of Camas, Washington, who scored 15 points, and Andrea Chiquemba, who added 13 points and six rebounds. The Knights’ offensive struggles were persistent, as they failed to reach 45 points for the eighth time this season and the fourth consecutive game. Jim’Miyah Branton of Miami, Florida, added 14 points and five assists for Austin Peay, while Anovia Sheals of Daytona Beach, Florida, filled the stat sheet with 10 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals. The Governors improved to 15-11 overall and completed a season sweep of Bellarmine, having won the previous meeting 67-39 on Jan. 15. The victory was in line with statistical expectations, as pregame analytics gave Austin Peay a 95.2% probability to win. The Governors will look to build on the momentum when they host Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday. Bellarmine, mired in a 10-game losing streak, continues its search for a third win on the season when it visits Lipscomb on Wednesday.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — The Austin Peay Governors will look to solidify their standing in the conference race when they host the struggling Bellarmine Knights in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Winfield Dunn Center. The Governors (14-11) enter the matchup seeking to regain momentum after a narrow 67-63 road loss to Central Arkansas on Wednesday. They have lost four of their last five contests following a three-game winning streak in late January. Bellarmine (2-26) aims to halt a 13-game losing skid, with its last victory coming on Dec. 30. The Knights are coming off an 87-54 home loss to North Alabama on Wednesday. Austin Peay dominated the first meeting this season, defeating Bellarmine 67-39 on Jan. 15 in Louisville, Kentucky. A key matchup will feature two of the conference’s top guards. Austin Peay will rely on Anovia Sheals, who is averaging 18.3 points over her last three games. She scored 23 points in the loss to Central Arkansas and had 23 points and five rebounds in a road win at Stetson on Jan. 24. For Bellarmine, Ava Smith has been a consistent bright spot during the difficult season. The guard is coming off a 22-point performance against North Alabama and has scored in double figures in four of her last six outings, including a 19-point game at Stetson on Feb. 7. The Governors have shown a potent offense at home, averaging 79.5 points in their last two games in Clarksville, including an 85-47 rout of Queens (N.C.) on Feb. 12. Bellarmine’s defense, which has allowed an average of 80.1 points per game during its 13-game losing streak, will face a significant challenge. Austin Peay will look to exploit its interior advantage and capitalize on Bellarmine’s conference-worst scoring margin. The Knights rank last in the league in both points scored and points allowed per game. Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon. Austin Peay will host Eastern Kentucky next Wednesday, while Bellarmine travels to face Lipscomb next Wednesday.