GAME NO. 19 | JAN. 21, 2013
KENNESAW STATE VS USC UPSTATE | 7:00 P.M. ET
KENNESAW, Ga. | KSU CONVOCATION CENTER (4,600)
LIVE STATS |
LIVE AUDIO |
TICKETS
THE GAME:
The Kennesaw State women’s basketball team will look to rebound after a two-point loss this Monday, Jan. 13, as the Owls host the Spartans of USC Upstate at 7 p.m. in the KSU Convocation Center for an Atlantic Sun Conference showdown.
The Owls are now 4-14 on the season and 0-6 in the conference while Upstate comes in at 5-12 overall and 1-5 in the A-Sun after a five-game losing skid.
Tickets for the game are still $6 for adults, $4 for kids under the age of 12 with Kennesaw State students, faculty and staff as well as military members free with a valid ID.
THE COVERAGE
AUDIO: Play-by-play will be available from KSUOwls.com with Ben Poplin narrating the action from courtside at the KSU Convocation Center.
LIVE VIDEO: A-Sun Television will have a live stream of Saturday’s game from Kennesaw, Ga., starting at 7:00 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from KSUOwls.com at the start of the game.
THE OPPONENT
The Spartans have lost five straight including their last at Mercer, falling 72-55 to the Bears.
Upstate has had success from the field this season, shooting .404 on the year, the third highest mark in the A-Sun with an average of 69 points per game.
Senior guard Tee’Ara Copney is one of the best offensive players in the conference, averaging 12.2 points per game with 24 made three-pointers, 2.1 assists per game and a free-throw percentage of .941, missing just two freebies so far this season.
THE SERIES
The Owls lead the all-time series by one game, 5-4, winning the last meeting in Kennesaw, Ga., 54-45, on Feb. 2, 2012.
The black and gold started the game off on a 22-6 run as the Owls outrebounded the Spartans by a 44-28 margin,
Sametria Gideon (Madison, Ala./Bob Jones HS) coming down with a game-high 14 of those.
LAST OUTING
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.
Kristina Wells (Douglasville, Ga./Douglas County HS) was one of three Owls in double-figures with her game-high 19 points while Gideon finished up with 13 points and eight rebounds and 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.
Nicole Adams (New Port Richey, Fla./Gulf HS) put in a pair of three-pointers off of the bench for KSU, the second straight game she has done so.
THE NUMBERS
Gideon is one of just 36 players in the nation to average a double-double with 11 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
The three-point defense of KSU is the best in the A-Sun and one of the top 100 in the nation, holding opponents to just a .275 success rate from beyond the arc.
The Owls are committing just 12 fouls per game, putting KSU at No. 5 in the nation in fewest personal fouls per contest.
NEXT UP
The Owls are back on the road after Monday’s game, heading out for three straight starting at A-Sun newcomer Northern Kentucky on Saturday, Jan. 26, at 4:30 p.m. followed by games at Lipscomb and cross-state rival Mercer.
NEWS AND NOTES
Gideon’s Double-Doubles
Gideon now ranks in the top 15 nationally in total double-doubles with nine after recording three double-doubles over the past four games. The senior is one of just 36 players in the NCAA to be averaging a double-double on the year and the only player in the A-Sun to do so. Gideon currently leads the league in rebounding and is the only player to be averaging double-digit boards with 10.3 rebounds per game.
Wells Rising up
Over the last three games alone for KSU, Wells is averaging 18 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. The sophomore also has 11 assists, 11 steals and is shooting 50-percent from the field with just seven personal fouls.
Adams off the Bench
Adams has provided a spark off the bench for head coach
Nitra Perry, putting in four three-pointers off of the bench in the last two games. The redshirt freshman is averaging 11.9 minutes per game and now has 10 made triples on the season with a team-best 39-percent success rate from beyond the arc.
Milestones to Look out for
Ashley Holliday (Greenville, S.C./J.L. Mann Academy) is seeking her 1,000
th career point, holding steady at 846, and her 200
th three-pointer, currently sitting at 190 makes from beyond the arc. Gideon is currently looking for rebound 1,000, bringing in 972 so far, while Wells is seeking her 500
th career point at 487.
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.
