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KENNESAW, Ga. – It was a stifling defensive effort for the Kennesaw State women's basketball team as the Owls rolled past Northern Kentucky for a 53-39 win on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 8) at the KSU Convocation Center.
 
"I am extremely excited," said head coach Nitra Perry. "I thought that was the best defensive effort we have had had all year. It was a total team effort."
 
The Owls held NKU to25 percent shooting in the game, including 4.5 percent in the first half after allowing only a single field goal in the period. NKU's 39 points tied the lowest opponent point total in program history.
 
"This win will definitely boost the moral," Perry continued. "We talked about before the game that this was a new season and we wanted to go 2-0. I think that they are committed to playing for 40 minutes regardless of the results. We feel like if we do that then we can play with anyone."
 
KSU, who has won back-to-back conference games for the second time this season, improves to 6-16 overall and 4-7 in the Atlantic Sun Conference, while the Norse fall to 12-10 and 8-3 in the league.
 
Junior guard Kristina Wells continued her dominance with a game-high 16 points and came within one rebound of her career-high with 14 boards in the win.
 
It was a slow start offensively for both teams, as the Owls jumped out to a 5-1 lead five minutes into the game. Despite the slow start, KSU was locked in defensively, holding NKU without a field goal for the first 14 minutes of the half. A jumper from Kayla Thacker, followed by a Norse free throw cut the KSU lead to six at 12-6 with just over four and half minutes left in the half.
 
The Owls then held NKU scoreless for the remainder of the first, as a three-pointer from junior guard Bria Young, sandwiched between two layups from freshman forward Gratia Brooks sent the home team into intermission with their largest lead of the game at 22-6.
 
Out of the break, freshman guard Deandrea Sawyers connected on a three for the 25-10 lead, before back-to-back NKU layups moved the Norse to within 11 at 25-14.
 
KSU responded with a mini 7-2 run to again take a 16-point lead at 32-16 with nine and a half minutes left in the contest.
 
The Norse continued to battle, coming within nine at 37-28, but Wells delivered a momentum killing three-pointer to keep the visitors at bay. NKU would not get closer than that as the Owls sealed the 53-39 win from the free throw line, connecting on eight freebies in the final four minutes of the game.
 
Young added 13 points for her second-consecutive double figure game, including three three-pointers, while Sawyers pitched in nine points.
 
The Owls assisted on eight of their 17 field goals, with Wells and Sawyers each handling out four helpers in the win. Defensively, KSU forced the Norse into 18 turnovers, including seven steals for the Owls with Wells leading the way with four.
 
KSU grabbed 40 rebounds, with redshirt-senior forward Lisa Capellan and freshman forward Aareon Smith each pulling down six rebounds to go along with Wells' 14 boards.
 
Thacker poured in nine points and 16 rebounds for the Norse in the loss.
 
The Owls next heads south for a date with the Stetson Hatters in the Edmunds Center on Thursday, Feb. 13 in Deland, Fla. Tip is slated for 6 p.m. ET and can be seen on ASun.TV.
 
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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