By: by Jason Hanes
Box Score
BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Ashley Holliday's four first-half 3-pointers and Angie Smith's 14 points in the second half helped lift the Kennesaw State women's basketball team to its first road win of the season in a 67-58 defeat of Campbell at the Pope Convocation Center Thursday evening. The win propelled the Lady Owls into a tie for the sixth seed in the A-Sun Championships.
The Lady Owls (8-16, 5-10) used both their inside and outside game to establish a double-digit lead in the first half. Post players Montinique Nixon and Sametria Gideon combined for 14 points in the first 20 minutes of play, enabling the Lady Owls to lead in the first half by as many as 10, 25-15. Campbell (13-11, 8-6) whittled away at the lead, tying the score at 32-all before Holliday connected on two huge 3-pointers to give the Lady Owls momentum heading into the locker room, and a 38-34 lead.
KSU seized control of the game early in the second half with a 16-5 run, getting scoring from all over the court. Nixon, Gideon, Smith, Gia Lockett, DeAndrea Bullock, and Brandi Jones all recorded points in the scorebook as the stifling defense of the Lady Owls held the Camels to just two field goals over the first 12:30 of the second half.
The Camels got as close as seven in the final five minutes, but Smith stepped up to ensure the victory for KSU. The sophomore, who finished with a game-high 14 points, scored 11 of the final 16 points of the contest for KSU, including sinking seven clutch free-throws to give the Lady Owls their first road win of the season.
Smith and Holliday (13 points) were two of the four Lady Owls to score in double-figures, as Gideon netted 11 and Nixon added 10. Smith finished as KSU's leader on the glass with six rebounds, in addition to five assists and five steals.
Ashley Williamson had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Camels, while Courtney Cannon chipped in 10 to pace Campbell.
The win, tied with North Florida's 42-33 win over Stetson, puts the Lady Owls and the Ospreys in a tie for the sixth seed in the A-Sun Championships, with Stetson now sitting one-half game back at 5-11. The Lady Owls are now also a single game behind Jacksonville for the fifth seed.
KSU will be back in action Saturday afternoon as they face East Tennessee State. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m.
