By: By Libby Knight
KENNESAW STATE (1-6) AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE (5-3)
GAME 8 | DECEMBER 12, 2013
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. | MURPHY CENTER (11,520)
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO | TWITTER
THE GAME:
Following a eight day break, the Kennesaw State women's basketball team returns to the court for back-to-back road games, first traveling to Murfreesboro, Tenn., for a Noon ET contest against 2013 NCAA Tournament participant Middle Tennessee State on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Thursday's contest will be the second-annual Murfreesboro City Schools Education Day, with over 6,000 school children expected to attend the event.
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from GoBlueRaiders.com at the start of Thursday's game.
LIVE VIDEO: Live video of Thursday's game will be provided by BlueRaiders.com. Fans can follow the link via KSUOwls.com at the start of the contest.
LIVE AUDIO: A live audio stream will also be available for fans via BlueRaiders.com beginning at the start of the contest.
TWITTER: Follow the Kennesaw State women's basketball team on Twitter @
KSUOwlsWBB to receive updates throughout the game.
THE OPPONENT:
Middle Tennessee State
After starting the season at 1-3, the Blue Raiders (5-3) have bounced back to win four-straight contests, including winning the inaugural Gulf Coast Showcase Championship over the Thanksgiving holiday. MTSU has faced two teams in the Top 25 polls and are currently receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25. Ebony Rowe leads MTSU with 22.6 points and 11.4 rebounds per outing.
THE SERIES:
This will be the third meeting between the Owls and Blue Raiders, with MTSU holding a 2-0 advantage in the series history. In the teams' last meeting MTSU took a 87-45 win over KSU in the Owls' 2012-13 season and preseason WNIT opener in Murfreesboro, Tenn., on Nov. 9, 2012. Junior
Bria Young set a new career high with 15 points on five three-pointers to lead KSU.
LAST TIME OUT:
Despite a second half comeback, the Kennesaw State women's basketball team fell short against rival Georgia State, 60-54, on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at the KSU Convocation Center.
Freshman guard
Deandrea Sawyers continued to lead the Owls offensively with 16 points on the night, while junior guard
Kristina Wells came within two points and two steals of a triple-double with eight points, 11 rebounds and a career-high eight steals.
NEXT UP:
The Owls conclude their two-game road trip with a 2 p.m. ET contest against No. 16/17 Georgia in Athens, Ga., on Sunday, Dec. 15. It will be the second Southeastern Conference (SEC) foe and first ranked team the Owls' have faced this season.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Rebounding Strong
The Owls continue to rank in the top three in several rebounding categories in the Atlantic Sun Conference, including ranking first in both offensive rebounds (15.7/game) and offensive rebounding percentage (.397), as well as ranking second in rebounding defense (37.4/game) and third in rebounding margin (+3.7). For the season, KSU is outrebounding its competition 288 to 262.
Leader on the Court
Junior
Kristina Wells has been the consistent force behind the Owls and ranks in the top four in the conference in steals (2.4 spg) and rebounding (9.3 rpg). Her 12.9 points per game also rank 13th in the A-Sun.
Sawyers Takes Charge
Freshman
Deandrea Sawyers is averaging a team-high 17.8 points per game in the last four games, including back-to-back 24-point outings against Jacksonville State and Murray State. The Nashville, Tenn., is also averaging 2.0 assists with eight helpers in that span.
Three-Point Specialist
Freshman
Aareon Smith has been on fire from behind the arc in the previous four games, shooting a blistering 46.2 percent on 6-of-13 three pointers. Against Georgia State, Smith knocked down a career-high three treys en route to nine points.
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.
- #GoKSUOwls -
