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MACON, Ga. – The Kennesaw State women's basketball team battled until the end, but the comeback fell short as the Owls dropped a 64-59 decision to rival Mercer on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 1) at Hawkins Arena.
 
"We are still trying to put together a 40-minute game," said head coach #Nitra Perry. "I think if we had started the game four or five points better as far as not turning it over, I think it would have been a different outcome for us. We are taking some baby steps every game, but I definitely saw improvement and I thought they battled. We are just trying to get to the point of not letting the game start without us being present from the beginning."
 
The Owls (4-16, 2-7) were paced by junior guard Kristina Wells, who registered her 10th double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
 
It was a rough beginning for KSU as the Bears (11-9, 4-5) capitalized on seven Owl turnovers to jump out to an early 10-3 lead in the first six minutes of the game. A Mercer tip-in gave the home team its largest advantage of the half at 16-3 with 9:35 left on the clock.
 
Despite the rocky start, the Owls continued to battle back into the game. Trailing 19-8 with just over six minutes left in the period, KSU put together a 10-2 run over the next four minutes to cut the lead to 21-18, with five different Owls contributing points in the run.
 
After trading baskets in the final two minutes of the half, the Owls entered intermission down by five at 25-20.
 
Out of the break, Mercer scored the first six points of the half to push its lead to 11 at 31-20 with 17:21 left before a jumper from freshman guard Deandrea Sawyers put the Owls on the board in the second half.
 
KSU pulled within 35-29 with 13 and a half minutes remaining as Wells completed a traditional three-point play to cut the lead to six. The Mercer lead hovered between six and eight points over the next five minutes when the Bears took control of the momentum with six-straight points and a 12-point lead at 47-35 with just under seven minutes remaining.
 
The Owls were not done however, putting together a 7-0 run to come within five at 47-42 with just over five minutes left to play. After a called timeout, the Bears responded with a three-pointer to spell the KSU momentum before pushing the lead back to 10 with jumpers from Kendra Grant and Briana Williams.
 
A three-pointer from junior guard Bria Young with 30 seconds remaining brought the score to 61-55, but it would be as close as the Owls got as the Bears went on to win 64-59.
 
Sawyers and freshman forward Aareon Smith joined wells in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively, while Smith added a career-high two blocks in the contest.
 
KSU defeated the Bears on the glass, 41-28, grabbing 17 offensive boards for 14 second chance points. Junior forward Valescia Dixon came within one of her career high with nine rebounds for the Owls.
 
The Owls, who were averaging seven three-pointer per game in A-Sun action, converted on only four treys and shot 15 percent from beyond the arc, but had its second-best showing of the season from the free throw line with a 86 percent mark (13-of15).
 
KSU outscored Mercer in the paint, 34-20, but committed 20 turnovers, including 13 first half giveaways, which resulted in 16 points for the Bears.
 
Williams led the way for the Bears with 24 points, while Grant poured in 19 for the home team.
 
Kennesaw State returns to the Convocation Center as the second round of Atlantic Sun Conference play begins when the Owls host Lipscomb on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. ET.
 
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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