Jan. 17, 2009
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State's women's basketball team whittled a 22-point Florida Gulf Coast second-half lead down to two, but couldn't quite erase the entire deficit as the Lady Owls fell 78-72 on Saturday afternoon at the KSU Convocation Center in an Atlantic Sun Conference game.
After trailing 61-39 with just over nine minutes remaining, the Lady Owls started pulling out all the stops defensively, pressuring the Eagles up the court on every possession. The plan worked as the Eagles started turning the ball over and Kennesaw State (6-9, 3-4) converted on the other end to the tune of a 24-4 run, making the score 65-63 after a pair of free throws for junior Greteya Kelley.
Florida Gulf Coast (12-4, 5-3) ended the run on a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer of the shot clock to extend the lead back to five for the Eagles. The Eagles would push the lead back up to nine, but the Lady Owls came back again, taking advantage of seven consecutive missed free throws by the Eagles. Trailing by six, DeAndrea Bullock connected on a three-pointer to trim the lead to three, 75-72. FGCU missed a pair of free throws on the other end, but Bullock's attempt from beyond the three-point line to tie the game came up short, and after an FGCU rebound and made free throw, the Eagles had a two-possession lead. KSU would not score again as the Lady Owls fell by six.
Kelley finished with a game-high 19 points, a season-high six steals, and five rebounds. Senior Britteny Henderson scored 18 points while senior Jennifer Baker added 14. Bullock finished the afternoon with a game-high eight rebounds, including five on the offensive end.
It was a tale of two halves as FGCU could do no wrong in the first 20 minutes while the Lady Owls could do no right. The Eagles connected on 15-of-24 from the field, including 7-of-13 from three-point range to open up a lead as high as 23. The Lady Owls went just 8-of-28 in the first half with 12 turnovers.
The Lady Owls finished the game with a 41-34 advantage on rebounds, including a 22-8 edge on the offensive glass. Two nights after only forcing five turnovers against Stetson, the Lady Owls forced 24 FGCU turnovers with 15 coming on steals.
Five players scored in double-figures for FGCU, led by McNally's 18.
The Lady Owls will be back in action on Thursday when they take on Lipscomb in Nashville, Tenn. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. CST.
