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SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Kennesaw State women's basketball team led early, but could not hold on in the end as the Owls dropped a 72-64 decision to USC Upstate on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 25) at the G.B. Hodge Center.
 
Freshman guard Deandrea Sawyers led the Owls (4-15, 2-6) with a team-high 20 points, while junior guard Kristina Wells poured in 19 points, including a pair of three-pointers.
 
It was a back-and-forth affair in the opening minutes of the contest with four lead changes and three ties in the first nine minutes of the half. Down one at 13-12 with a little less than 11 minutes remaining, the Owls scored the next six points with two Sawyers jumpers and a layup from freshman Chloe Branch to gain momentum at 18-13.
 
The Spartans (9-9, 4-3) came within one at 18-17 with seven minutes left on the clock, when Sawyers put in five-straight points to give KSU its largest lead of the half at 23-17.
 
Following a Branch free throw for a five-point advantage at 24-19, Upstate used an 11-3 run in the final 4:13 to close out the half with a 30-27 lead at intermission.
 
After an Upstate jumper to open the half, the Owls evened the score at 34-34 with a mini 7-2 run led by Sawyers. Just 60 seconds later, KSU retook a 37-36 lead on a three-pointer from freshman forward Aareon Smith.
 
Smith again put the Owls on top at 44-42 with her second three-pointer of the contest, but the lead did not last long as the Spartans went on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes before Wells ended the dry spell with a slashing drive through the lane for pull KSU within 52-46 with nine minutes left in the second half.
 
Continuing to battle, the Owls trimmed the Upstate lead to two at 52-50 with a pair of freebies from redshirt-senior forward Lisa Capellan. The Spartans then responded with seven-straight points to widen their lead to 59-50 with five and a half minutes remaining.
 
A Wells layup brought the Owls to within six at 63-57, but a Spartan three-pointer just a minute later would hold off the KSU comeback as Upstate sealed the 72-64 win from the charity stripe.
 
Both teams grabbed 43 rebounds, but the Spartans won the offensive rebound battle 17-12 and registered 16 second-chance points. Smith pulled down a career-high 11 boards for the Owls, with Capellan, Wells and Sawyers each adding seven rebounds, which tied a career-high for the Nashville, Tenn., native. Smith and Sawyers also handed out three assists a piece for KSU.
 
While the Owls posted a better shooting percentage than Upstate, 41 percent to 39 percent, they were hindered by 16 turnovers that turned into 15 points for the home team.
 
The Spartans were led by a game-high 28 points from Alex Stanford.
 
KSU wraps its three-game road swing as the Owls make the short trip to Macon, Ga., for a 3 p.m. ET contest against rival Mercer in The University Center on Saturday, Feb. 1.
 
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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