By: by Jason Hanes
KENNESAW, Ga. - Senior Gia Lockett was one of four Lady Owls in double-figures with a game-high 17 points, lifting Kennesaw State to a, 63-59, win over North Florida in the final home game of the 2009-10 season for KSU.
Wearing pink for the third consecutive year to raise awareness towards fighting breast cancer, the Lady Owls stayed undefeated in their "alternate" jerseys. The win was not without a fight, as the Ospreys led by nine, 44-35, with just under 11 minutes to go. KSU mounted a charge though, roaring back to score eight points over the next three minutes to cut the Ospreys lead to one with 7:52 left.
After swapping baskets back and forth, the Lady Owls (10-17, 7-11) regained the lead after an offensive rebound and a lay-up by Angie Smith. UNF (9-18, 6-12) regained the lead on the next possession, but Lockett drained her only 3-pointer of the game with 3:52 to put KSU on top, 54-52.
UNF tied the game again, but Lockett was up to the task, connecting on a runner to give KSU the two-point advantage again. After a Brittany Kirkland lay-up with 2:08 left knotted the score for the last time, KSU continued to work on the offensive glass to regain the lead. DeAndrea Bullock grabbed an offensive board, then got fouled to go to the line for a pair of free-throws. After a stop on the next possession, the Lady Owls wound down the shot clock until Smith hit a jumper with 47 seconds left to make it a two possession game, 60-56. Smith then came up with a steal and hit a free-throw to give KSU a five-point lead.
The Lady Owls continued to lock down on defense, not allowing UNF to score. After two free-throws were missed by the Ospreys, Smith made another free-throw for a six-point advantage. Eventually, after another missed shot from the field by the Ospreys, DeAndrea Bullock finished the scoring for KSU with a free-throw. Juliemay Syquio connected on a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds to go, but it would not be enough as the Lady Owls celebrated the four-point win.
Nixon was one of two Lady Owls to record a double-double, scoring 14 points and matching with 14 rebounds. Freshman Sametria Gideon had 10 points to go with 12 rebounds, while Snith finished with 14 points for KSU. For the game, the Lady Owls out-rebounded UNF, 54-44.
Syquio and Kirkland both finished with 16 to pace the Ospreys. Margaret Bell added 12 in the losing effort.
The Lady Owls will try to improve their seeding in the A-Sun Championships by heading on the road for the final two games of the regular season. KSU will face Lipscomb on Thursday at 5:15 p.m. CST, before heading down the street in Nashville to face Belmont at 5 p.m. CST Saturday in the regular season finale.
