Jan. 19, 2008
Box Score
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Kennesaw State received a season-best 15 points from Nikki Gurley but Chelsea Dermyer scored a game-high 24 points, including 16 in the second half, to lead Atlantic Sun Conference newcomer Florida Gulf Coast past the Lady Owls, 75-64, on Saturday evening at Alico Arena.
The loss drops KSU to 2-2 in the A-Sun and 7-9 overall. FGCU won its second straight league game to improve to 7-7 and 2-2 in conference play in just its first season against NCAA Division I competition after finishing as the D-II runners-up last year.
A slow start proved to be the Lady Owls downfall as they failed to score until the 12:41 mark, missing their first six shots from the field. Early foul trouble for Britteny Henderson played a major role, as the junior forward and KSU's leading scorer picked up her second foul just five minutes into the game allowing the Eagles to jump out to a 13-0 lead.
After taking a pass from Greteya Kelley on a cut through the lane, DeAndrea Bullock broke the nearly seven and a half minute drought after being fouled and converting the second of a pair of free throws to put KSU on the scoreboard. The Black and Gold's first field goal came with 11:30 to go in the first half when Kelley sank a three-pointer making the score 14-4. Ashley Haegele answered right back for FGCU with a three of her own to push the lead back to 13.
Despite the wretched start, Kennesaw State found itself only down nine as a quick 6-0 run cut the lead to 19-10 after a jumper by Kelley. The Lady Owls guard scored nine of the team's first 16 points and the Black and Gold pulled within six when she found a wide-open Jennifer Baker under the basket to bring the score to 24-18. KSU closed the half out well, sinking key free throws to go into halftime down four, 33-29.
But for as well as Head Coach Colby Tilley's squad finished the first stanza, they started the second equally as bad. Meanwhile, Florida Gulf Coast started the second half with an 8-0 run to take a 12-point lead two minutes in capped with five straight points by Dermyer.
KSU would pull as close as five points on four different occasions in the second half but could never get over the hump as the Lady Owls dropped their second straight conference game after starting 2-0 for the first time since joining the A-Sun two years ago.
Gurley posted her season high after going 5-of-8 from behind the three-point arc to help the Lady Owls make seven shots from three-point land. Henderson finished with 13 points but was limited to just three rebounds. Kelley also had 13 while Baker added eight in the losing effort.
FGCU hit 13 shots from beyond the arc, led by Dermyer with five.
KSU finished the game shooting 22-of-44 (.500) from the field, while the Eagles made 28-of-60 (.467) shots.
The Lady Owls will look to snap their skid when they travel for a Monday afternoon game at Stetson. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. in DeLand, Fla.
