By: KSU Sports Information Department
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Angie Smith led Kennesaw State with 21 points as the Lady Owls held off a furious Alabama State rally in a, 70-67, win in the home opener at the KSU Convocation Center on Friday evening.
“It was really two games for us,” said head coach Colby Tilley. “The first half we played hard and smart. Even into the second half we played well, but then in the final eight or so minutes we lost our focus. But, to our credit we regrouped and held on for the win.”
Kennesaw State (2-2) enjoyed a 16-point lead at the 5:46 mark of the second half before Alabama State began to chip away the KSU lead. Smith’s short jumper with 4:18 left in the game was the last field goal the Black and Gold would make as the Lady Owls held a 68-53 lead.
It was then that Tanika Jackson, who scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Alabama State (1-2), took over. She propelled the Lady Hornets comeback with three straight lay-ups in the paint as she single-handedly trimmed the Lady Owls to 69-63 with 2:09 left to play.
“Jackson is their best player and we knew that coming in,” added Tilley. “We tried to double team her, but it was hard because she is such an active player inside. We tried to double-down with a guard on the backside, and it helped a little, but she is so athletic.”
A lay-up by Millicent Jones cut the lead to four points with 1:30 left and after a Kennesaw State turnover, one of 28 on the night, Jackson hit a pair of free-throws to trim the Lady Owls lead to 69-67 with less than a minute remaining.
Smith countered, driving the lane where she was fouled and then made one of two free-throws for the final margin of victory. Smith scored more than 20 points in back-to-back games for the first time in her career and was just one point away from matching her career-high, which she set on Wednesday night at Georgia Tech.
“Angie (Smith) is a tremendous player who played very well tonight,” added Tilley. “She was exceptional defensively and is playing the kind of basketball now we knew she could play when she first came here.”
Ashley Holliday scored a career-high 17 points, including a trio of three-pointers while Sametria Gideon recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Lady Owls, who snapped a two-game losing streak in home openers.
The Lady Owls will be back in action on Sunday afternoon when they hit the road to take on the their third ACC opponent of the season in the Clemson Tigers. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
