Dec. 18, 2008
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga.--Thursday night's contest between the top two teams in the Atlantic Sun Conference's pre-season poll more than lived up to its billing as the Kennesaw State women's basketball team overcame a 17-point deficit but fell to East Tennessee State, 79-78, in overtime at the KSU Convocation Center.
The Lady Owls (3-5, 1-1) trailed 49-32 with just under 19 minutes to go in the contest after a lay-up for Latisha Belcher. But that lay-up would be one of only six made shots from the field in the second half for the Lady Bucs (3-5, 1-1) as KSU clamped down on defense. Sparked by 13 points in the second half by freshman Angie Smith, the Lady Owls came back to take the lead, 64-63, after a pair of free-throws for the freshman. The lead ballooned to five in the midst of a 10-0 run for the Lady Owls as Smith connected on another jumper with 4:39 left in regulation and senior Britteny Henderson hit from 17-feet to put KSU up 68-63.
ETSU came back with a 7-0 run to take a 70-68 lead on Gwen Washington's lay-up with 1:44 remaining. Henderson tied the score at 70-all on a jumper with 80 seconds remaining, but that made shot capped what essentially was KSU's final full possession of the game. After a missed shot by ETSU, Henderson grabbed a rebound but turned the ball over to the Lady Bucs. After two more offensive rebounds for ETSU, Smith came away from a pack with the ball after a missed shot by the Lady Bucs, but was called for a double dribble pulling away from the pack with 18 seconds remaining.
After a timeout, the Lady Bucs held for the final shot of the game. The shot from underneath the basket fell out for Siarre Evans, but in going for the rebound, Henderson was elbowed above the eye and fell to the ground in a heap. No foul was called on the play, and the buzzer sounded to end overtime two seconds later.
In overtime, the Lady Owls found themselves without the services of Henderson and soon without the services of Montinique Nixon, who picked up her fifth foul of the game with 2:04 to go and the Lady Owls ahead by a point. The foul sparked a 5-0 spurt for ETSU, with all of the points for the visitors coming from the foul line. Trailing 79-75, Smith connected for a three-pointer to cut the lead to one, 79-78. But after two missed free throws by the Lady Bucs, ETSU was able to secure the final rebound of the game and the 79-78 win.
Kelley had 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals for the Lady Owls. Smith finished with 18 points while DeAndrea Bullock came of the bench to add 13. Henderson scored 10 and grabbed eight rebounds before leaving with the injury at the end of regulation.
ETSU was led by Siarre Evans, who scored 19 points and grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds. Latisha Belcher led all scorers with 22 points and converted a double-double of her own with 10 reboulds. The Lady Bucs shot just 7-of-38 for the second half and overtime, but hit on 18-of-25 from the charity stripe.
The Lady Owls will be back in action on Sunday when they travel to take on Longwood. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.
Notes: The Lady Owls have yet to defeat ETSU since joining the A-Sun...The officials granted a media timeout with 2:19 left in overtime...For the eighth straight game, the Lady Owls forced at least 20 turnovers (24)...ETSU out-rebounded KSU 52-43, including 29-17 on the offensive side.
