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JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Even with a career night from freshman guard Deandrea Sawyers, the Kennesaw State women's basketball team fell to Jacksonville State, 78-65, at the Pete Mathews Coliseum on Wednesday night (Nov. 20).
 
Sawyers poured in 24 points for the Owls (1-4, 0-0), including three three-pointers and 14 second half points, to go along with five rebounds and three assists. Junior guard Kristina Wells fell one rebound short of her third-straight double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds.
 
"Tonight was a reflection of our lack of maturity and leadership," said head coach Nitra Perry. "We are continuing to challenge the team for someone to step up. I thought I saw some glimpses in freshmen Deandrea Sawyers and Aareon Smith, who has been steady since she was put into the starting lineup. Chloe Branch is fighting, so that is all I can ask for. We are trying to teach the game and other things as well, but right now we do not have any fight in us. This was a game that we should have competed in and won and did not come out ready to play.

"I am not surprised by Deandrea's performance," added Perry. "She is a kid that brings it everday in practice. Usually it is surprising for a freshman, but she is a special kid and I think she is going to have a great career here at Kennesaw State."
 
The Owls never led in the game after JSU (1-3, 0-0) put in the first basket of the game on a Miranda Cantrell jumper. A Sawyers three-pointer and a free throw from Wells moved KSU within two at 6-4.
 
A 14-2 run by the home team over the next six minutes catapulted the Gamecocks to the forefront as they held a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game. KSU would cut the lead to 11 at 26-15 with four minutes left in the half, before JSU scored the next seven points and entered intermission with a 38-22 advantage.
 
The Gamecocks continued firing away in the second half, extending the lead to 26 within the first six minutes with a 14-4 run to open the period before a pair of free throws from junior guard Ty-Nita Baker ended the run.
 
Despite JSU's largest lead of the game at 75-47 with less than five minutes remaining in the game the Owls continued to battle, ending the game on a high note with a 18-3 run for a final score of 78-65 in favor of the Gamecocks.
 
Baker was the only other Owl in double figures with 10 points, including two three pointers, to go along with five rebounds. Freshman forward Aareon Smith added nine points, all of which came in the second half.
 
Both teams pulled down 36 rebounds, with junior forward Valescia Dixon adding four boards for the Owls.
 
KSU had its second-best shooting effort of the season with a 42.3 percentage but was hindered by 21 turnovers, leading directly to 24 Gamecock points on the other end of the floor.
 
Cantrell posted 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Gamecocks.
 
The Owls continue their road trip to Murray, Ky., for pre-Thanksgiving Day contest against Murray State on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Tip is set for 5:15 p.m. (ET) at the CFSB Center.
 
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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