Nov. 30, 2006
Box Score
Deland Fla. - Stetson rallied from a nine-point deficit in the final five minutes of regulation to force overtime before knocking off Kennesaw State, 57-49, on Thursday evening at the Edmunds Center.
The Lady Owls (2-3, 0-1 A-Sun) tried valiantly to hold onto their slight lead as time was running out near the end of the game, but Sharmeshia Smith (9-for-18) drove the near baseline with two seconds left to tie the game and for the second time this season the Lady Owls saw a lead vanish in the waning moments of regulation.
The end came quickly in overtime for Kennesaw State as Smith, who had a game-high 21 points, hit a three-pointer on the first possession of the extra period to give the Hatters a 50-47 lead. A pair of misses by Jade Robinson (1-for-9) preceded a short jumper by Ashley Johnson (4-for-10), as Kennesaw State was able to move within a point with 3:22 left in the game.
However, Johnson's basket was the last one Kennesaw State would get for the night as Stetson (1-5, 1-0 A-Sun) ended the game on a 7-0 run to win their first game of the season and snap the Lady Owls two-game winning streak.
Ngoneh Gaye (5-for-8) and Rosetta Hollis (4-for-16) both had strong nights for Kennesaw State. Both recorded double-doubles with Gaye having a 13-point, 13-rebound night while Hollis scored 10 points and added 11 rebounds.
After Gaye hit a jumper with 5:31 to give KSU a 46-34 lead, they could only mage one free-throw by Ashley Johnson the rest of the way as Stetson countered Gaye's basket with an 11-0 run.
Three free-throws cut the lead to nine points before Janene Maclin (4-for-8) scored on a lay-up to make the score 46-39 with 4:21 left. While the Hatters were cutting into the KSU lead, the Owls were falling apart missing five straight shots and committing two turnovers.
Johnson, who scored the Lady Owls only basket in the final 10:31 of play, missed the front end of a one-and-one with 29 seconds left and Kennesaw State grasping a two-point lead. The Lady Owls sophomore also missed the first of two free-throws with KSU ahead by one with eight seconds left.
The Lady Owls were once again strong on the glass, out rebounding Stetson, 56-47, including an eight-rebound advantage on the offensive glass. However, 25 percent shooting from the floor, missing six of 10 free-throws in the second half and 19 turnovers proved to be too costly in the end for KSU.
Johnson finished with 10 points for the Lady owls while Robinson added seven and DeAndrea Bullock chipped in six points. Maclin had 12 points for Stetson with Kim Manning adding 11 assists.
Kennesaw State will be back in action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Macon, Ga. to play the Lady Bears at 2:00 p.m.
