Nov. 17, 2006
Box Score
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The Kennesaw State women's basketball team rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit but was doomed by 29 turnovers as the Lady Owls fell to IPFW, 77-74, in the first round of the Carolina First Classic on Friday night.
KSU (0-2) roared back with a late comeback and tied the game at 74-74 when freshman Rosetta Hollis converted a lay-up and the subsequent free throw with 0:47 remaining in the game. The Mastodons (2-0) would not go away quietly and finished what they started when KSU's Ngoneh Gaye fouled Samantha Edwards to sends the forward to the foul line for two shots with 0:28 to go.
Edwards missed the front end but nailed the second to give IPFW a one-point lead. But as had been the story all game long in key situations, the Lady Owls committed back-to-back turnovers. IPFW's Courtney Reed hit the final two freebies with :01 remaining to give the Mastodons the three-point victory.
Hollis led all scorers 18 points. The freshman forward was 8-of-15 from the field and gathered five rebounds, all on the offensive end. Forward Jade Robinson came off the bench and was a perfect 4-for-4 to finish with 11 points, while guard Ashley Johnson finished with 10.
The Lady Owls jumped out to an early 5-4 lead before being plagued by three straight turnovers and three subsequent lay-ups by the Mastodons (2-0). IPFW stretched its lead to as many as 16 until the Lady Owls put together a quick 6-0 run to cut the lead to ten (40-30) with 1:23 to go in the first half. The Mastodons responded and went into the halftime break up 12 at 42-30.
The Mastodons had four players finish in double figures, led by Edwards and Ashley Johnson with 14 point apiece. Tina Moen scored 11 points on the evening and Juliane Hohne chipped in 10.
After shooting 39 percent in the first half, the Lady Owls answered with a 17-of-29 performance in the second stanza to finish shooting 48 percent for the game. IPFW finished the game at 39 percent shooting.
The Lady Owls will play in the consolation game at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow against Morgan State. IPFW and UNC Asheville, who advanced with a 63-45 win over the Bears, will play for the First Carolina Classic title at 4:00 p.m.
