By: by KSU Sports Information
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Junior Ashley Holliday scored 26 points, connecting on eight 3-pointers, as the Kennesaw State women's basketball team fell to No. 16 North Carolina, 76-62, at Carmichael Arena Sunday afternoon.
"Our team just kept on working hard," said KSU head coach Colby Tilley. "This game is going to really help us get ready for conference play."
The Lady Owls (2-3) battled hard for the entire contest and took their first lead of the game when Holliday connected on her first 3-pointer at the 18:05 mark of the half. After UNC tied the score, 3-3, Holliday connected again from long-range to give KSU the lead again. UNC gained the lead, 8-6, but Taylor Mills connected on a triple try to give KSU another lead, 9-8.
The Mills shot sparked an 8-0 run for Kennesaw State. Holliday connect4ed on her third 3-point try to give the Lady Owls the lead by four. Gideon would get on the scoreboard with just under 10 minutes to go, converting a lay-up to give KSU a 14-8 lead.
The Lady Owls would keep the lead until a free-throw by UNC tied the score, 18-18. Holliday dropped home a jumper to give the Lady Owls another lead, but UNC tied the score again. UNC grabbed the lead, 22-20, with four straight points, but a three-point play by Gideon gave the Lady Owls the lead, 23-22.
The lead would bounce back-and-forth between the two squads. KSU earned its final lead of the contest, 30-29, after Carmen Lockhart's first two points of her collegiate career. Unfortunately for the Lady Owls, UNC would score the final seven points of the contest to take a, 37-30, lead into the locker room.
North Carolina's run continued in the second half, as the Tar Heels stretched the lead all the way up to 26, 66-40. Undaunted, the Lady Owls kept fighting back, outscoring UNC 22-10 over the final 9:38 of the contest. The Lady Owls cut the lead down to as few as 10, 72-62, after Holliday's eighth and final 3-pointer of the game, but UNC would score the final four points of the contest.
Gideon finished the afternoon with a double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. Mills had eight points and a team-best five assists, while Kristina Wells had six points and a team-best four steals.
Chay Shegog had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead UNC. She'la While had 20 points and six assists.
The Lady Owls will be back in action this Thursday when they open up Atlantic Sun Conference play against Belmont. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
