Nov. 4, 2008
KENNESAW, Ga.--Junior Gia Lockett led all scorers with 22 points as the Kennesaw State women's basketball team overcame a sluggish start to defeat Emmanuel College, 84-58, on Tuesday night in an exhibition game at the KSU Convocation Center.
The Lady Owls trailed 23-17 with just under eight minutes to go in the first half before a 12-0 run catapulted the home team to a 33-30 lead after the first 20 minutes. The Lady Lions led briefly, 39-37, in the second half, but with the score tied 40-40, Lockett scored the next seven points to spark a 13-0 KSU run, capped on a put-back off a missed basket for senior Britteny Henderson.
Emmanuel stayed within 16 points until the late stages of regulation. The Lady Owls ran off an 8-0 run over 2:10 to lead 82-54 with under a minute to go, the largest lead of the Game for KSU. After DeAndrea Bullock's free throws with three seconds remaining were tallied, the Lady Owls had a 26 point victory.
Senior Jennifer Baker scored 14 of her 21 points in the second half to help lift the Lady Owls. Baker also had a team-high seven steals in 32 minutes of action. Henderson had a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds, with all of her points coming in the second half. Greteya Kelley scored 12 points in the contest, keeping the Lady Owls in the game with eight free throws in the opening 20 minutes.
With senior point guards Ashley Johnson and Lennisha Johnson sidelined for the contest, the Lady Owls struggled to find a rhythm offensively in the first half. KSU trailed 17-11 after the first 10 minutes of play with the Lady Owls committing seven turnovers and missing nine shots from the field in the process. The Lady Owls used numerous lineup combinations, due in part to 13 fouls going against KSU in the first 20 minutes. Twelve players saw time on the court for the Lady Owls, with newcomer Davia Harris pulling down five rebounds in 13 minutes of work.
Defensively, the Lady Owls forced 36 turnovers, with 26 of those coming on steals. The Lady Lions were held to 21-of-59 shooting for the contest, good for just 35.6 percent from the field.
KSU will be back in action next Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m. when they host Columbus State in the final exhibition game of the season for the Lady Owls. The new season will officially tip off on the road for the Black and Gold the following Friday at Richmond.
