Feb. 16, 2008
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga.--In a season-defining and program-defining game, Greteya Kelley had 16 points and DeAndrea Bullock added 12 to lead the Owls to a, 55-52, come-from-behind win over Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday afternoon at the KSU Convocation Center.
"That was a milestone win for our program," said KSU head coach Colby Tilley. "This defined how far we've come as a program since joining Division I. We beat a very good Florida Gulf Coast team today."
FGCU came to Kennesaw on a nine-game winning streak, and after 20 minutes, it looked as though the Eagles might extend it to 10. The Lady Owls shot just 28.1 percent in the first half, and trailed, 29-24 after the opening frame.
Wearing pink uniforms in support of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's breast cancer awareness initiative "Think Pink", the Lady Owls (14-10, 9-3) perhaps got a little luck from their new uniforms. Trailing 35-29 early in the second half, the Lady Owls used seven straight points from Bullock to take their first lead of the game. Bullock corralled an offensive rebound and got a put-back to make it a four-point game. A pair of free throws on the next possession for the sophomore made it a two-point game with 14:07 to go.
Five possessions later, the Lady Owls finally took the lead, as Bullock drilled a three-pointer from the top of the key to put KSU ahead, 36-35. After a basket on the other end by FGCU, Bullock hit her second three of the game to put KSU up 39-37.
The two teams battled back-and-forth, with FGCU (14-8, 9-3) retaking the lead thanks to a free throw for Chelsea Dermyer. Dermyer would make another free throw one possession later to make it 45-43 for the visitors.
The Lady Owls fed Brittany Henderson on the next two possessions, and the Atlanta Native responded with a pair of baskets to give KSU the lead again with 4:27 to go. FGCU tied the score again on a layup with 3:07 left, but the Owls took the lead for good when Kelley sunk a pair of free throws and Jennifer Baker made a layup at the 2:00 mark, making the score 51-47.
The result was still in doubt when Ashley Johnson stepped to the charity stripe with the Owls ahead by a single point with 22.8 seconds left. Needing to make the first free throw to earn the second, Johnson sunk the first then made the second to make it 55-52.
FGCU still had a chance to tie the game, but Dermyer's three-pointer just before the final buzzer went off the iron, giving the Lady Owls a 55-52 victory.
"All of our players played well and did it when they needed to do it," said Coach Tilley. "We made key baskets, key stops and defense, and key free throws. I couldn't be prouder of the entire team effort we had today."
Limited to just two minutes of action in the first half due to two early fouls, Henderson scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds in the second half. Baker scored eight points for KSU, while Nikki Gurley made two three-pointers for six points on the afternoon.
Dermyer scored 16 points to lead the FGCU offense. Delia de la Torre had 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
The win keeps the Lady Owls one game out of first place, and moves the Eagles into a tie with KSU.
The Lady Owls will return to action this Monday when Stetson visits the KSU Convocation Center. The game will also be Senior Night for the Lady Owls program, as Gurley, Stephanie Searce, Jade Robinson, Katie Martin, and Ngoneh Gaye will all be honored.
