By: By Libby Knight
KENNESAW STATE (2-9) VS JACKSONVILLE (3-8)
GAME 12 | JANUARY 2, 2014
KENNESAW, Ga. | KSU CONVOCATION CENTER (4,600)
TV: ESPN3.COM
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | TICKETS | PROMOTIONS | TWITTER
THE GAME:
The Kennesaw State women's basketball team is set to open up Atlantic Sun Conference play this Thursday, Dec. 30 as the Owls battle Jacksonville at the KSU Convocation Center in a 7 p.m. ET contest. It will be the third-consecutive home game for the Owls.
KSU enters its conference opener at 2-9 and will look to continue its winning ways against the Dolphins, who sit at 3-8 under first-year head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin.
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from KSUOwls.com at the start of Thursday's conference opener.
LIVE VIDEO: Live video of Thursday's game will be provided by ESPN3, with Nathan McCreary and Theresa Gernatt on the call. Fans can follow the link via KSUOwls.com 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:
Jacksonville
The Dolphins enter Thursday's conference opener on a six-game winless spell, including a 71-62 loss against Florida Atlantic at the World Vision Challenge on Dec. 22. Jacksonville is led by sophomore guard Queen Alford, an WVC All-Tournament Team honoree, with 13.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Yolett McPhee-McCuin is in her first season with the Dolphins.
THE SERIES:
This will be the 17th meeting between the Owls and the Dolphins, with JU holding a 9-7 advantage over KSU. The Owls took a 57-51 win on Feb. 9, 2013 at the KSU Convocation Center in the teams' last meeting with
Chelsea Mason and
Sametria Gideon pouring in 20 points each to lead KSU.
LAST TIME OUT:
It was a total team effort as the Kennesaw State women's basketball team earned an 83-79 win over Alabama A&M on Sunday afternoon in the KSU Convocation Center.
The Owls registered four players in double figures, led by 22 points, including five three-pointers, from freshman guard
Deandrea Sawyers. Junior guard
Kristina Wells again came within two assists of a triple double with 14 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.
NEXT UP:
Kennesaw State will wrap up its four-game home stand with a 2:30 p.m. contest against North Florida on Saturday, Jan. 4 at the KSU Convocation Center. Saturday's game will be the second game of the day, as the KSU men face East Tennessee State at noon for an Owl basketball doubleheader Saturday.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Sawyers Named A-Sun Newcomer of the Week
After leading the Owls to an 83-79 win over Alabama A&M, freshman guard
Deandrea Sawyers earned A-Sun Newcomer of the Week honors. Sawyers registered a team-high 22 points, including a 5-of-12 mark from three-point range. It was the third 20+ point game of her rookie campaign, after scoring 24 points against Jacksonville State and Murray State earlier in the season.
Brooks Coming on Strong
Freshman forward
Gratia Brooks has been a sparkplug for the Owls in the last two contests, starting both games and scoring back-to-back career-highs with 10 and 16 points, respectively, against Columbia and Alabama A&M. In that span, Brooks has made 9-of-13 field goals (69.2 percent) and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line.
Wells Leads the Way
Junior guard
Kristina Wells has been the consistent force behind the Owls and ranks in the top four in the Atlantic Sun Conference in steals (1.7 spg), rebounding (8.9 rpg) and minutes played (34.8 mpg). Her 13.0 points per game also rank 10th in the A-Sun.
Rebounding on Offense
The Owls continue to be a strong offensive rebounding team, ranking second in the Atlantic Sun Conference in both offensive rebounds with 156 total offensive rebounds for an average of 14.2 per game and offensive rebounding percentage (.370).
Limiting Opponents on the Glass
Defensively, KSU ranks second in rebounding defense and is holding teams to 34.6 rebounds per contest. For the season, the Owls hold a +1.0 rebounding margin, which sits fourth in the league.
Owls on TV
This season the Owls will play a total of 13 games on the ESPN3 network, including 10 at the KSU Convocation Center, and one on CSS, the most televised games in program history. With league play starting on Thursday, the Owls will have nine-straight home games that will be shown on the ESPN3 network.
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 -
