By: By Brandon Scardigli
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Even with a 28-point effort from junior guard
Kristina Wells, the Kennesaw State women's basketball team couldn't slow down the high-paced offense of USC Upstate as the Owls took a 90-78 loss at home on Saturday afternoon.
Wells now sits just two points shy of reaching the 1,000
th of her career after her 28 point, eight rebound, four assist, three steal game.
KSU, now 6-20 overall and 4-11 in the Atlantic Sun Conference, never led in the game but did rally in the second half to keep things close against the Spartans, who move to 13-12 on the season and 8-6 in the league standings with the win.
"I was disappointed in our effort to start the game off," said Kennesaw State head coach
Nitra Perry. "And we just can't have that this late in conference play. We need to see the team we saw back in November and December as far as our effort goes. Kristina did a great job, came out and did her thing and got to the free-throw line like she's done all year."
After the opening tip the Owls fell into a 12-0 hole, allowing the Spartans to jump up by double figures four minutes into the action. A
Lisa Capellan layup then put KSU on the board, capitalizing on an Upstate turnover.
A 5-0 run from the Owls managed to cut a 15-point lead down to just 10 at 21-11 with 13:28 to go in the half,
Aareon Smith starting off the rally with a three-pointer from teammate
Bria Young. Upstate succeeded in holding on to their double-figure edge, going up by 17 with 3:21 to go before an 8-1 KSU run cut the lead back down to 10, 45-35,
Gratia Brook putting in six of those points.
Upstate would send the game into the half with a 48-35 lead, but Young again came up big, hitting on a three to make it a 10-point game once again out of the break. A 12-2 run from the Spartans over the next eight minutes then put the visitors up by 20, 64-44, with 11:47 on the clock, but the Owls weren't done.
Capellan connected on a layup followed by a pair of free throws to bring the lead down to 16 points at 64-48 with Wells putting in the field goal moments later to make it a 15 point game, 67-52, with just under nine to go.
Wells then dwindled the Spartan lead down to 13 points with a midrange-jumper and down to 11 points at the 3:27 mark with a layup. KSU would get within 10 once more at 86-76 after a pair of Wells free throws, but the comeback came too late as Upstate took the 12-point win.
Wells was tops for both teams with her 28 and was one of three Owls in double-figures scoring along with Smith's 13 and Brooks' 11.
Capellan led the Owls on the boards with her nine as KSU won the rebound battle, bringing down 29 to the Spartans' 37.
The Owls also had a nice afternoon at the line, hitting on 15-of-18 attempts with Wells going 10-for-11 on her own.
The Owls will be back in action in seven days, taking on rival Mercer on Saturday, March 1 at 3:30 p.m. ET in the Convocation Center.
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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