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ATLANTA – Despite a strong start to the game, the Kennesaw State women's basketball team fell to crosstown rival Georgia Tech, 77-48, on Wednesday night (Nov. 19) at McCamish Pavilion.
 
"I thought tonight we came out and we played hard at the beginning," said head coach Nitra Perry. "I think just missing a couple of shots, our confidence got a little bit down and then of course missing block-outs, which is something we have been emphasizing the last three games. When you do not do those small things, they do eventually catch up with you. I was pleased with the first seven or eight minutes of the game, but learning how to manage the game and being composed the entire game is something we have to learn. We have new players and you want them to get that and we are just trying to get them to gel."
 
"We missed a couple of people tonight. Jasmine was not the presence she normally is and we missed her. We missed that and we needed everybody to step up. I say this even in the wins, but our team is going to be a team that needs everybody to win. When everybody does not show up, you get these kinds of games. I think we are going to bounce back. We are going to watch some film, and go back to the drawing board. We are not reinventing the wheel, the small things win the game and we did not do the small things tonight."
 
Sophomore Deandrea Sawyers paced the Owls (2-1) with a season-high 18 points, to go along with eight rebounds and a team-high four assists on the night, while senior Kristina Wells added 11 points and three steals.
 
After a Yellow Jacket three-pointer to start the scoring, Wells knotted the game at 3-3 with a layup and free throw to open the scoring for the Owls.
 
Both teams traded baskets in face-paced beginning of the half with neither pulling away. GT (3-0) grabbed a 12-9 lead with 15:33 left on the clock, before a 12-4 run over , capped by a three-pointer from Sawyers, gave the Owls a 21-16 advantage halfway through the period.
 
The Yellow Jackets responded with their own 12-0 run, while holding KSU scoreless over the next seven minutes. Junior Jasmine McAllister broke the run with a layup off of a pass from sophomore Aareon Smith to pull the Owls within 28-23 with four minutes remaining in the half.
 
Five-straight points from Sydney Wallace pushed the lead back to double digits at 33-23, before a Yellow Jacket layup with 15 seconds to go sent the home team into intermission with a 35-32 advantage.
 
Out of the break, Sawyers came alive offensively as she scored the Owls first seven points of the half as the Jackets stretched its lead to 50-30 with 11:32 on the clock. Despite the deficit, KSU continued to battle throughout the second half.
 
Sawyers again made her presence felt as she was fouled on a floated in the lane and converted the free throw for the three-point play to bring KSU within 53-35 with eight minutes remaining.
 
Back-to-back three-pointers from redshirt-freshman Kelly Dulkoski brought the score to 67-47 with three and a half minutes left, but the Jackets would end the game on a 10-run to seal the 77-48 victory.
 
McAllister grabbed 13 of the Owls' 30 rebounds, including six offensive boards.
 
KSU continued its marksmanship at the free throw line, drilling 5-of-6 freebies, but were hampered by 20 turnovers that GT converted into 26 points.
 
Kaela Davis led the Jackets with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Aaliyah Whiteside registered a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The Owls next make the drive down to Statesboro, Ga., for a 4:30 p.m. ET contest against regional rival Georgia Southern on Saturday, Nov. 22 in Hanner Fieldhouse.
 
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.