By: by KSU Sports Information
NASHVILLE - With a shot to win the game as time expired, Kennesaw State's final open look from 3-point territory fell off the iron as Belmont defeated the Lady Owls, 57-55, Thursday evening in Atlantic Sun Conference women's basketball action at the Curb Event Center.
Taylor Mills scored a game-high 15 points to lead the Lady Owls and nearly put KSU in the win column with the final shot of the game. Lisa Capellan found Mills open on the wing with two seconds to go. Her shot went in the air just before the horn sounded, but hit the front of the iron as the game came to its bitter conclusion.
KSU led, 30-23, at the halftime break but Belmont scored eight of the first 10 points to take the lead, 33-32. While Belmont built the lead as high as seven, the Lady Owls (2-4, 0-1) kept fighting, tying the game, 52-52, on a fast-break basket by Kristina Wells. With the score tied, 55-55, Belmont's Katie Brooks hit an eight-footer from the center of the paint to provide the margin of victory.
Wells and Capellan each had nine for the Lady Owls, while Ashley Holliday and Sametria Gideon each had eight. Gideon also had a game-high 14 rebounds. Mills added game-highs in steals with five and assists with four.
KSU shot just 27.7 percent (18-of-65) from the field. While the Lady Owls connected on six 3-pointers in the first half, only one shot from beyond the arc fell in the second half. Both teams went 12-of-19 from the free-throw line, but the Lady Owls went 6-of-12 in the second half of the contest.
Haley Nelson had 14 points to lead Belmont. Brooks also finished in double digits in points with 10.
The Lady Owls will be back in action Saturday afternoon when they face Lipscomb in A-Sun play.
