Jan. 28, 2008
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - Britteny Henderson scored a career-high 25 points and helped Kennesaw State to a 63-53 victory over the Belmont Bruins on Monday night at the KSU Convocation Center.
Henderson had her best game in a Lady Owls' uniform, going 9-of-13 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. The Atlanta native finished one rebound short of her eighth double-double of the season after grabbing nine boards to go with her three assists and one steal.
The win, the third in a row for the Lady Owls, marks the first time the Black and Gold has defeated the Nashville-based school. The Lady Owls were 0-4 in previous meetings. With the victory, KSU (10-9, 5-2 A-Sun) moves into second place in the league standings, one game behind conference co-leaders Jacksonville and East Tennessee State. Belmont falls to 10-10 and 4-3 in league play.
KSU struggled to defend the taller Bruins and it clearly showed in the first half, as Belmont led by as many as 10 after a pair of Brooke Sunday free throws with 8:33 to go until halftime. But Henderson responded for the Lady Owls, scoring the next two baskets to pull KSU within six at 18-12.
The Bruins answered and would see their lead jump back to eight before the Black and Gold mounted a charge late in the half with a 5-0 run to cut the lead to one after a pair of Jennifer Baker free throws. Rachel Swisher responded for Belmont, hitting a three-pointer to give BU a 28-24 halftime lead.
The Bruins were red hot from the field in the first half, converting 10-of-19 shots (.526), while the Lady Owls only managed to shoot 31.0 percent (9-of-29) from the floor in the first stanza.
After the first ten minutes of the second half, the game looked all but over for Kennesaw State as Belmont held a 43-34 advantage after a Sunday lay-up. But once again it was Henderson to the rescue for the Lady Owls as she scored 12 of KSU's next 14 points to cut the Bruin margin to one at 49-48 with 5:22 remaining.
A Shaunda Strayhorn turnover started a quick 6-0 run for the Black and Gold, giving KSU its first lead of the game. Henderson would cap the comeback with a pair of freebies and was solid down the stretch, grabbing two crucial rebounds to spur the Lady Owls onto the 10-point victory.
Kelley scored in double figures for the eighth straight game, finishing with 11 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the field. DeAndrea Bullock was key off the bench for the Lady Owls, also adding 11, after going 4-of-5 and 2-of-3 from long distance. Nikki Gurley also knocked down a three-pointer en route to finishing with five points on the evening.
Sunday and Amber Rockwell led Belmont with 12 points apiece, while Jessica Bobbit chipped in 11 points and nine rebounds.
The Lady Owls once again dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Bruins, 37-28. Kennesaw State also forced 25 turnovers, converting them into 23 points.
Kennesaw State will return to action on Saturday afternoon with a trip to ETSU at 1:30 p.m., before heading to USC Upstate for a showdown next Monday night.
