Jan. 26, 2008
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - Greteya Kelley finished with a game-high 20 points, 12 of which came in the second half, as she helped lead Kennesaw State to a 56-48 win over Lipscomb on Saturday afternoon at the KSU Convocation Center.
With the win the Lady Owls improve to 9-9 overall and are off to their best conference start since joining the Atlantic Sun Conference two years ago with a 4-2 league mark. Lipscomb falls to 4-16 and 2-4 in the A-Sun with the loss.
Kelley notched 20 points for the second straight game after going 9-for-19 from the field and 2-of-4 from the free throw line. The Lawrenceville, Ga. product also led KSU with a season-high seven steals and three assists.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair that saw four lead changes and three ties. After being down 7-5 four minutes in, Kennesaw State responded with an 8-1 run, capped by a Kelley lay-up to take a 13-8 lead. Lipscomb held tough throughout the first stanza and secured its largest lead of the game as the Lady Bisons closed the first half with a 10-2 run after a Jennifer Bratsokas lay-up game the visitors a 28-22 advantage heading into halftime.
KSU shot 27.3 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes after making just nine of 33 attempts. Lipscomb on the other hand was more steady, finishing the first half 10-of-26 (.385)
The Lady Owls came out of the break with conviction and determination, two things they lacked in their previous two second halves of play against Florida Gulf Coast and Stetson. KSU made its first five of six shots from the floor out of halftime, erasing the six-point deficit to take a 33-30 lead.
Britteny Henderson pushed the Black and Gold's advantage to nine with eight minutes to play after her jumper from 12 feet made the score 45-36. Lipscomb could only get as close as five points with 6:30 to play as it was KSU's pressure defense and Henderson's play down the stretch that propelled the Black and Gold to their second straight victory.
The Atlanta native finished with her seventh double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Jennifer Baker also finished in double figures, netting 10 points to go with six steals and two assists.
Jillian Partin led the Lipscomb offense with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Bartsokas added 12 points, while Kaleigh Gossman had six and Valerie Bronson came off the bench to chip in five.
The Lady Owls shot much better in the second half, going 14-of-26 (.538), to finish the game shooting 39.0 percent. The Lady Bisons ended the game shooting 34.7 percent (17-of-49).
Despite the victory, Kennesaw State went without a three-pointer (0-for-7) for the first time in five years (118 games), dating back to when the Lady Owls went 0-for-8 from behind the three-point arc on January 15, 2003 at Augusta State.
KSU recorded 22 steals in the contest, the most since the opening game of the season against Jacksonville State. The Lady Owls turned 28 Lipscomb turnovers into 28 points and out-rebounded the Lady Bisons, 40-37.
Kennesaw State will go for its third straight win on Monday night when Belmont comes to the Convocation Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and can be seen on A-Sun TV.
