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KENNESAW, Ga. – Despite holding a lead for the majority of the ballgame, the Kennesaw State women’s basketball team couldn’t hang on in the final minutes against East Tennessee State University, falling at the KSU Convocation Center, 61-59.
The Owls, who move to 4-14 on the year and 0-6 in the Atlantic Sun Conference, had three players finish in double-digits including
Kristina Wells (Douglasville, Ga./Douglas County HS) with a game high 19.
After ETSU, now 4-9 overall and 2-4 in the A-Sun, held control of the game for the first nine minutes, KSU came back from a nine-point hole to grab the lead on a Wells layup, giving the black and gold the 16-15 lead after a 12-0 run from the home team. The Owls maintained a four-point lead heading into halftime with
Chantel Kennedy (Brooklyn, N.Y./Colorado State) finding the bottom of the net with just one second remaining on the clock, putting the score at 36-32.
Coming back out of the gates it was KSU dominating on the offensive side of the ball once again, lunging out to a 13-point lead in the first nine minutes of the second half, 51-38, with six points each from Wells and freshman
Chelsea Mason (Bellevue, Neb./Bellevue West HS).
But the Bucs weren’t done yet, going on a 22-4 run over the final nine minutes to take the game, 61-59, after a Wells buzzer beater fell short for the Owls.
“I think we played 36-37 minutes of good basketball,” said Kennesaw State head coach
Nitra Perry. “We’re still learning how to win. You don’t just go out there and win, you have teams who are used to playing from being down and now were trying to coach a team that’s getting comfortable rather than continuing to attack.”
“Our focus in the last 2-3 minutes was keeping the team positive and telling them to have fun,” added Perry. “
Ashley Holliday didn’t have a good game and she’s usually our floor leader out there, so that hurt. We really need all six or seven players to come out and play well for us.”
Senior
Sametria Gideon (Madison, Ala./Bob Jones HS) finished up with 13 points and eight rebounds while Kennedy ended the night with 12 points, all coming in the first half.
Wells led the Owls in the rebound category, coming away with nine to go with her six assists and three steals. The combination of Wells, Kennedy and Gideon each played in 38 of the 40 minutes or more.
“Kristina played awesome basketball again tonight,” said Perry of her sophomore guard. “She’s getting the drives she wants and she’s getting banged up a bit. She’s just playing awesome basketball these past few games and I couldn’t ask her for more from her right now.”
Coming off of the bench,
Nicole Adams (New Port Richey, Fla./Gulf HS) chipped in with six points on a pair of three-pointers, the second straight game she has done so.
“Nicole has been terrific for us as somebody really buying into her role,” said Perry. “She always comes into the gym and says ‘What can I do?’ No matter if I use her or not in a game, she’s always positive.”
As a team, KSU went 10-of-13 from the charity stripe with Wells putting in a game-high five of those.
The Owls will be back on the floor this Monday, Jan. 21, when the Spartans of USC Upstate take to the Convocation Center for a 7 p.m. matchup.
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State women’s basketball news follow the team on Twitter
@KSUOwlNation and
@KSUOwlsWBB or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
Kennesaw State University is celebrating 30 years of intercollegiate athletics during the 2012-13 academic year.
Around the A-Sun
Stetson 92, Lipscomb 51
Mercer 72, USC Upstate 55
North Florida 66, Jacksonville 63
