Feb. 23, 2008
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Forty minutes of play was not enough on Saturday afternoon to settle an important Atlantic Sun Conference battle between Jacksonville and Kennesaw State. Lucky for the Lady Owls, the extra five minutes were the key to the game as KSU escaped Veterans Memorial Arena with a 75-71 overtime win.
After trailing by as many as 10 points with eight minutes to play in regulation, KSU (15-11, 10-4 A-Sun) used a healthy combination of Britteny Henderson and pressure defense to work its way back. The Lady Owls put together an 11-2 run, capped by Henderson finishing off a 3-point play with 3:24 left to tie the game at 62.
The Atlanta native's day came to an end moments later as she committed her fifth foul. Fortunate for Henderson and the Lady Owls, DaVina Hamilton missed the front end of a one-and-one, keeping the score tied.
After Jacksonville (20-6, 10-3) opened the overtime on a 7-1 run, the Lady Owls took over, scoring the final nine points of the game. KSU grabbed the lead for the first time with 35 seconds remaining, 72-71, on a jumper by Montinique Nixon.
The Dolphins had a chance to retake the lead, but Crystal Grable turned the ball over and Ashley Johnson hit of 1-of-2 free throws to put the Black and Gold up, 73-71, with 20 seconds left.
JU had one last chance to retake the lead, but Reginia Omoite's 3-point attempt was off and the Greteya Kelley hit a pair of free throws to seal the Lady Owls' fifth win in their last six games.
Kelley led the Lady Owls, tying a season-high with 20 points on 6-of-17 shooting from the field and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line. DeAndrea Bullock added 15 points off the bench while Henderson tallied her tenth double-double with a 14-point, 12-rebound performance.
JU was paced offensively by Virginia Gregoire's 24 points. Meanwhile, the Lady Owls defense held the league's top scorer, Ashley Williams, relatively in check, limiting the senior to 14 points, two-and-half below her season average.
The win snapped Kennesaw State's four-game losing streak to the Dolphins, dating back to the Lady Owls' last win over JU in 2006.
KSU will look to carry the momentum into their next game, a Monday night showdown against long-time rival, North Florida. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and can be seen on A-Sun TV.
