By: by Jason Hanes
KENNESAW, Ga. - After a pair of exciting wins to open its three-game homestand, the Kennesaw State women's basketball team will try to make the stay at home a perfect one as it faces in-state rival Mercer Wednesday evening at 7 p.m.
Closing out the first half of their A-Sun schedule, the Lady Owls (5-12, 2-7) started out conference play with a string of seven losses before last Saturday's, 71-69, thriller over Jacksonville. Two nights later, the Lady Owls clamped down on defense in the final two minutes and used Ashley Holliday's fourth and final 3-pointer of the night to take down North Florida, 54-50.
Part of the reversal of fortunes for the Lady Owls has been the emergence of Christie Leverette at the point guard position. Against the Ospreys Monday night, Leverette had eight assists, the most for a Lady Owls player this season and the most in the Division I era for KSU.
For the Lady Owls to be victorious against Mercer (1-17, 1-8), they will have to stop freshman guard Briana Williams. Williams scored 41 points last Monday night against Jacksonville, the fifth-highest total for any player in Divison I this season and the highest for any freshman in the country. Williams scored 23 of her team's final 29 points, but it wasn't enough as the Dolphins were able to pull out the victory over the Bears, 80-78, in overtime.
The two teams split the season series last year, with KSU winning in thrilling fashion at the Convocation Center, 52-51. Brandi Jones scored 19 points in the victory, as the then-freshman was en route to earning A-Sun Player of the Week honors.
Wednesday night's game will be available via ASun.TV with David Albert on the call.
