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KENNESAW, Ga. – Junior guard Kristina Wells made a pair of free throws with 0.5 seconds left in regulation to lift the Kennesaw State women's basketball team to a 70-68 win over Tennessee State for the Owls' first win of the season on Monday, Nov. 11 at the KSU Convocation Center.
 
Junior guard Ty-Nita Baker continued her strong play with a team-high 24 points to go along with eight rebounds and six assists, while freshman forward Aareon Smith added 11 points for the Owls.
 
"I thought it was a tremendous team effort," said head coach Nitra Perry. "Ty-Nita Baker played awesome and we will remember the free throws by Kristina Wells at the end of the game. We made plays when we needed to make plays. We blocked out when we needed to block out. I thought we played well overall. We will have to work on our post defense a little bit, but overall I thought they did a pretty good job."
 
In a back and forth first half, the Lady Tigers took control with an 11-point lead at 32-21 with four and half minutes left in the period. The Owls bounced back, going on a 15-3 run to end the half with a one-point lead at 36-35, highlighted by seven points from Baker.
 
The competitive action continued in the second half with six lead changes and five ties as both teams traded baskets throughout the period. TSU built a six-point lead four times in the half, but the Owls stepped up their defense in the final minutes of the contest to tie the game up at 66-66 with 1:38 left in regulation.
 
After a layup from TSU standout Chelsea Hudson gave the Lady Tigers a 68-66 lead with 18 seconds  to go, KSU stayed composed on the ball with a layup from junior guard Valescia Dixon to even the game at 68-68 with six seconds remaining. On the ensuing play, TSU's Diamond Beatty misfired from three-point land before Wells was fouled on the rebound.
 
The Douglasville, Ga., native then buried two free throws to send the Owls to victory.
 
For the game, the Owls shot 52.9 percent from the field, including an 8-for-10 mark from the free throw line in the second half.
 
KSU outrebounded the Lady Tigers, 42-31, with five Owls grabbing five rebounds or more, including six each from Smith and freshman forwards Chloe Branch and Gratia Brooks.
 
The Owls bench also proved invaluable to the win, outscoring the TSU bench, 41-12, with 24 points coming from Baker.
 
Kennesaw State next returns to the road for a midweek contest against Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C., on Thursday, Nov. 14. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. at Paul Porter Arena.
 
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.
 
Season and single game tickets are currently available for all the home court action for the Owls and can be purchased by following the link HERE.
 
   

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