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FORT MYERS, Fla. – Junior guard Kristina Wells registered her 12th double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds, but it would not be enough as the Kennesaw State women's basketball team suffered a 76-42 setback to Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday night (Feb. 15) at Alico Arena.
 
"Although we were dismal from the three-point line I saw some bright spots throughout the game," said head coach Nitra Perry. "We executed some plays down the stretch that we had not before. Kristina Wells continued her leadership and led the way with her hustle. FGCU exposed our transition defense early on and we could never quite bounce back, however I felt like we fought until the final buzzer."
 
Wells is now only 53 points shy from 1,000 in her career and has 947 career points with five regular season games and the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament remaining for the Owls (6-18, 4-9).
 
After winning the opening tip, KSU scored the first points of the contest on a layup from redshirt-senior forward Lisa Capellan. Both teams battled through the opening eight minutes of the game, with three lead changes before a three-pointer from freshman guard Deandrea Sawyers sent the game into its third tie at 11-11 with 11:53 left on the clock.
 
FGCU (18-7, 12-1) then turned it on defensively to finish the half on a 20-2 run, including stretches of nine and 11-straight points for a 31-13 lead at the break.
 
A Wells layup with just over 15 minutes left in the game trimmed the lead to 38-17, but FGCU responded with back-to-back three-pointers to widen the margin to 44-17.
 
Despite the deficit KSU continued to fight throughout the second half, including twice coming within 28 in the final four minutes. But the Owls' effort was not enough as the Eagles went on to win things, 76-42.
 
Sawyers poured in 10 points, five rebounds and two assists for KSU, while Wells added four steals in her team-leading performance.
 
As a team, the Owls shot 37 percent from the field including a 50 percent margin in the second half alone.
 
The Eagles got a game-high 23 points from Jenna Cobb while also picking up 24 points off of 22 KSU turnovers.
 
KSU returns to the KSU Convocation Center for a pair of games, first hosting East Tennessee State on Thursday, Feb. 20. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. and can be seen 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.
 

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