BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF) | PRESS CONFERENCE | HIGHLIGHTS
 
KENNESAW, Ga. – For the second-consecutive game, the Kennesaw State women's basketball pulled out a last-second win as sophomore Deandrea Sawyers drilled a three-pointer from the corner to lift the Owls to a 61-60 victory over Big East foe Xavier on Monday (Dec. 22) afternoon in the KSU Convocation Center.
 
It makes seven-straight wins for the Owls, who move to 10-2 going into the Christmas break, the best start to a season since the 2000-01 campaign.
 
"Christmas came early," said head coach Nitra Perry. "We talked about that the toughest team was going to win and I thought we went out there and we fought. We knew that they were going to make their run or several runs. We knew they would press and for us it was really about composure and trying to play our style basketball and everybody staying composed during the entire time."
 
The Owls put together balanced scoring in the win as six players posted eight points or more in the win, led by junior Karly Frye, who registered 12 points, including a 3-of-4 mark from beyond the arc. Senior Kristina Wells, who earlier in the day had been named the Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week, added 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three assists.
 
The Musketeers (8-4) opened with the game's first five points and took a 7-2 lead, before a traditional three-point play from junior Jasmine McAllister and a Frye jumper evened the score at 9-9 with 13:28 left in the first half.
 
An 8-4 mini run by the Owls, including back-to-back three-pointers from Frye and sophomore Aareon Smith gave KSU a 17-13 lead midway through the period.
 
Following a Musketeer layup to bring the visitors within two, the Owls used a 9-2 run over the next five minutes to build a 27-17 advantage.
 
XU responded by scoring the next eight points to pull within 27-25 with 3:20 left on the clock, before a layup from redshirt-senior Breonna Mosely ended the Musketeer run.
 
After trading baskets, the Musketeers closed to 32-31 on a three-pointer, but Frye answered with a trey of her own to send the Owls into halftime with a 35-31 lead.
 
KSU came out firing on all cylinders out of the break, scoring the period's firs seven points to open a 42-31 advantage early in the second half.
 
With the Owls leading by nine with 12 minutes remaining in the half, the Musketeers clawed its way back into game with a 13-2 run over the next six minutes to take its first lead of the half at 52-50.
 
Following a Sawyers layup to give KSU the 54-52 advantage, XU scored the next eight points to build a 60-54 lead with two minutes left in regulation.
 
Down six, the Owls cut the lead to two with a Smith three-pointer and a Frye free throw, before grabbing a missed Musketeer basket with 20 seconds to go. Wells then drove down the lane and found a wide open Sawyers, who drained the game-winning three from the corner with two seconds remaining on the clock.
 
Redshirt-senior Breonna Mosely joined Frye and Wells in double figures with 10 points, while McAllister and Sawyers each poured in nine points and Smith contributed eight points in the victory.
 
The Owls owned the glass against the Musketeers to win the rebounding battle, 49-28, including pulling down 17 offensive boards that translated into 17 second chance points. McAllister led the Owls with 15 boards, while Mosely and Sawyers also grabbed seven rebounds each.
 
As a team, the Owls converted 23-of-58 field goals for a 39.7 percentage, including making 6-of-9 from the three-point line.
 
KSU was hampered by 18 turnovers, which Xavier converted for 25 points.
 
Maleeka Kynard led the Musketeers with 14 points, while Briana Glover had 13 for XU in the loss.
 
The Owls will break for the Christmas holiday, before returning to action on Monday, Dec. 29 for a road contest against Alabama A&M in Huntsville, Ala. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET in T.M. Elmore Gymnasium.
 
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.