Jan. 18, 2007
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - Jacksonville missed 16 of their first 25 free-throws in the first 35 minutes, but hit nine of 11 in the final five minutes to hold off Kennesaw State, 71-67, at the KSU Convocation Center on Thursday evening.
In a tooth-and-nail contest that lived up to its pre-game hype, the Lady Owls fought back from a nine-point second half deficit before seeing, the Lady Owls (7-10, 3-4 A-Sun) and Jacksonville (10-6, 4-2 A-Sun) played through five ties and six lead changes over the final five minutes before the Dolphins pulled out the win.
Jade Robinson (5-for-11), the Lady Owls leading scorer, had a chance to the game with 13 seconds remaining but her three-pointer missed and Regina Omoite (2-for-5) hit a free-throw with four seconds left to clinch the game for the Dolphins.
The Lady Owls led 55-54 with just over five minutes left before Omoite's three-pointer gave the Dolphins a 57-55 lead. Jacksonville would never trail the rest of the game.
Kennesaw State had a 31-30 lead at halftime before Jacksonville and their deeper bench took control in the second half. Playing with a thin roster after a bevy of injuries this season, head coach Colby Tilley and his upstart squad saw their slim halftime lead vanish as Danielle Gray (2-for-5) hit a lay-up on the first possession of the second half for a 32-31 Jacksonville lead.
The Lady Owls tied the game at 32-32 before Jacksonville went on a 14-3 run to take its largest lead of the night at 45-36. Over the next five minutes Kennesaw State would chip away at the Dolphins lead before Jennifer Baker's (2-for-10) jumper with 8:37 left gave Kennesaw State a 50-49 lead. Jacksonville missed its first eight free-throws in the second half and missed nine of their first 10 foul shots of the half.
The Lady Owls 14-4 run began when Robinson hit a three-pointer, one of xx three's she would hit on the night, with 13:04 left. Rosetta Hollis (3-for-10) hit a pair of free-throws and Gia Lockett connected on a long-range three-pointer as the KSU offense shifted into high gear. After Davina Hamilton (3-for-8) pushed the lead to five points, Robinson hit two straight baskets to pull the Lady Owls within a point.
The Lady Owls will continue their home stand on Saturday afternoon when they host longtime rival North Florida at 2:00 p.m. at the KSU Convocation Center.
