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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Despite holding a first half lead the Kennesaw State women's basketball team suffered a 63-46 setback to Jacksonville at historic Swisher Gymnasium on Thursday night (March 6).
 
With the loss, the Owls (6-22, 4-13) clinched the seventh seed in the upcoming Atlantic Sun Conference Championship and will face the loser of Saturday's contest between Florida Gulf Coast and Stetson in the first round of the tournament on Tuesday, March 11 at 7 p.m. ET.
 
"We played with heart and like we wanted to win a combined 20 minutes tonight," said head coach Nitra Perry. "We did not play defense nor block out when we needed it most. Gratia Brooks was a bright spot for us and I was proud of her effort. Overall as a team we just did not get it done."
 
Freshman forward Gratia Brooks led the Owls in scoring for the second-consecutive game with 10 points, including a 6-of-6 performance from the free throw line, while junior guard Bria Young also poured in 10 points, including three three-pointers for KSU.
 
After giving up a Dolphin layup to start the scoring in the game, the Owls scored the next seven points to build a 7-2 lead through the first three and a half minutes of action.
 
KSU maintained its five-point lead with a Brook layup with just under 13 minutes remaining in the half for the 11-6 margin, before JU (12-16, 9-8) ended the period on a 15-5 run to take a 21-16 lead heading into intermission.
 
Out of the break, the Owls twice cut the JU lead to three with a pair of Brooks free throw and a layup from junior guard Kristina Wells, but the Dolphins responded by holding KSU to two points over the next four minutes to build their first double-digit lead of the game at 32-22.
 
A 5-0 mini run from two Wells free throws and a Young three-pointer brought the Owls within five at 32-27 with 12:22 left on the clock. The Dolphins then rattled off the next six points to push its lead back to 11 at 38-27 with 10 minutes left in the game.
 
KSU would get as close as 44-32, but a 19-73 run over the next six minutes gave the Dolphins its largest lead of the night at 63-39 as JU went on for the 65-46 win.
 
Freshman guard Deandrea Sawyers added nine points for the Owls, while the Nashville, Tenn., native and Brooks each grabbed seven rebounds to lead KSU on the boards.
 
The Owls were hampered by 22 turnovers which led to 22 points for the Dolphins, who registered three players in double figures, led by Queen Alford's 15 points.
 
KSU closes out the 2013-14 season with the regular season finale on Saturday, March 6 against North Florida at 1 p.m., in Jacksonville, Fla.
 
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.
 
 

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