Feb. 15, 2007
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Gia Lockett hit a jumper with three seconds left to cap a monster second-half comeback as the Lady Owls topped rival North Florida, 58-56, on Thursday night at the UNF Arena.
Kennesaw State (11-13, 7-7 A-Sun) won its third straight game and moved to .500 in the conference for the first time since last January, but needed a furious second half comeback to hand the Lady Ospreys (6-18, 5-8 A-Sun) their fourth straight defeat.
"This was a huge win for us and I couldn't be more pleased with how we fought and battled," said head coach Colby Tilley on his team's last second win.
Lockett hit the game-winner against a North Florida zone that was utilized because of the dominant play by the Kennesaw State post players. Stephanie Scearce (7-for-10) and Rosetta Hollis (6-for-13) were a combined 13-for-23 and combined for 26 points and 16 rebounds.
"We called a timeout before the play and had it set up for Stephanie [Scearce] or Gia [Lockett]," commented Tilley. "Stephanie was covered and Gia took the pass, had a player in her face, dribbled twice to her right and hit it."
The Lady Owls, who trailed by 13 points as many as three times in the second half, took the lead with 2:15 left and were leading by two points until a turnover by Scearce led to a Shannette Sheffield (2-for-2) jumper in the paint with 14 seconds left to tie the game at 56-56.
After taking a 46-33 lead with 9:46 remaining, Baker hit back-to-back three-pointers to ignite a two-minute fury of points that put the Lady Owls back in the game. A pair of free-throws by Jade Robinson (1-for-6) and a three-pointer by Lockett made the score 46-44 with 7:26 left.
Kennesaw State stayed within four points until Montinique Nixon (1-for-3) and Scearce, who scored 14 points and added 15 rebounds, hit back to back jumpers to tie the game at 50-50 with 3:39 left. Baker then topped off the 6-0 run with a steal and a lay-up for the Lady Owls first lead since the 3:10 mark of the first half.
"Remember the movie the Band of Brothers," said Tilley. "This group right here is the Band of Sisters. There isn't but eight of them left who are healthy and they never quit. They battle and fight their heart outs and I am so proud of them."
While the Lady Owls were struggling offensively, their defense was nothing less than spectacular, causing 31 North Florida turnovers. Lockett and Jennifer Baker (4-for-8) each had four steals as Kennesaw State's backcourt caused problems for North Florida on both ends of the court.
Scearce led the Lady Owls with 14 points and added 15 rebounds while Hollis and Baker each scored 12 points. North Florida was led by Shandrea Moore's (3-for-10) 12 points. Denisia Andrews (4-for-11) and Cecilia Woolfolk (4-for-9) each contributed nine points.
The Lady Owls will be back in action on Saturday afternoon when they play Jacksonville at 2:00 p.m.
