By: by KSU Sports Information
KENNESAW, Ga. - Junior Ashley Holliday had 23 points to lead all scorers and the Lady Owls recorded 19 steals as a team as the Kennesaw State women's basketball team defeated Jacksonville State, 81-67, Saturday night at the KSU Convocation Center.
"I'm just so happy with how hard our team is playing," said KSU head coach Colby Tilley. "If we keep playing with this intensity and heart, I think some good things will happen for us."
Holliday had 23 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 shooting from the charity stripe. The Greenville, S.C., native also added a team-high five assists and came away with a pair of KSU's steals. "I knew coming into this season that I was going to have to step up my defense so I could help out my team as a more well-rounded player," Holliday said. "We knew that we would have to step it up tonight, and I'm really proud of my teammates for pulling this one through."
The Lady Owls (2-1) trailed, 43-42, just 40 seconds into the second half, but quickly ratcheted up the defensive intensity to take the lead for good. Sametria Gideon scored after an offensive rebound by Taylor Mills to put KSU back up by a point. As it turned out, KSU would never trail again. After a JSU miss on the other end, Mills connected on a three-pointer to stretch the advantage to four, 47-43.
With the lead at three, 50-47, Gideon created a steal and drove the court for a fast-break layup to get the lead up to five. After a JSU bucket, the Gamecocks had the ball off a KSU miss. Mills came through with a steal and drove the floor for a fast-break score to get the lead back to five again.
While Jacksonville State (1-3) outrebounded the Lady Owls, KSU had several key offensive rebounds to help build the lead. After a Mills miss from long range, Kristina Wells grabbed the offensive board and connected on a jumper to get the lead up to five. Wells scored again a minute later after a Gideon rebound to stretch the lead to seven, 58-51. Twenty seconds later, Wells found Gideon after the freshman swiped the ball from a Gamecock player, and Gideon connected to get the lead up to nine, 60-51.
The lead would get as high as 17 for the Lady Owls, as Holliday got a put-back bucket off an offensive rebound to make the score 75-58 with just under 5:30 to go in the contest. The lead would bounce between 15 and 17 points until Destiny Lane hit a 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds to go to account for the final, 81-67, score.
Wells scored 17 points to set a new best for her young career. Gideon scored all 14 of her points in the second half of the contest. Mills added 17 points, four assists, and seven steals.
As a team, the Lady Owls shot 50 percent (27-of-54) from the field. While Jacksonville State hit on just as many field goals and one more 3-pointer, KSU connected on 22-of-29 from the free-throw line, compared to just 7-of-11 for the Gamecocks.
Jacksonville State was led by Danielle Vaughn's 19 points and eight rebounds. Candace Morton had 13 points and five assists, while Lane finished with 15 points.
The Lady Owls will be back in action this Tuesday against Georgia Tech. Tipoff from The Arena at Gwinnett Center is slated for 7 p.m.
Notes: KSU moved over .500 for the first time since Nov. 22, 2009...Mills' seven steals were two off the KSU Division I record, set by Greteya Kelley against Jacksonville State Nov. 9, 2007...KSU used just six players in the win...KSU had 15 assists as a team...The Lady Owls had a 14-2 advantage in fast break points and outscored JSU in the paing, 38-32.
