Scores: Kennesaw State 49, Presbyterian 47
Records: Kennesaw State (1-1), Presbyterian (0-2)
Key Players: Jasmine McAllister (19 points, 15 boards); Kelly Dulkoski (6-10 from 3-point, 18 points); Team Defense (31 percent, 18-58)
 
Box Score (XML) | Box Score (PDF) | Photo Gallery | Highlights  | Press Conference

KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State women's basketball team defeated the visiting Blue Hose of Presbyterian, 49-47, on Monday (Nov. 16) evening at the KSU Convocation Center in a non-conference bout.
 
Before 379 fans, the Owls (1-1) locked in on the defensive end and held off the Blue Hose (0-2) in the final seconds of regulation to win their first game of the 2015-16 season. Kennesaw State moved to 6-0 all-time against Presbyterian, which marked the first meeting between the two teams since the 2007-08 campaign.
 
Redshirt sophomore Kelly Dulkoski sparked the Owls' offense, shooting 6-for-10 from beyond the arc and finished with 18 points –one shy of tying her career high. Senior forward Jasmine McAllister added 19 points and 15 boards, recording her first double-double of the season and also tallied three blocks.
 
In a game that started with defense for Kennesaw State, the Owls turned to their defense on the final possession to earn the hard-fought, battle tested win on Monday night.
 
Trailing by two, Presbyterian got an open look from the corner for a game-winning three, but the shot rimmed out and the Owls earned the victory.
 
For the game, KSU held the Blue Hose to just 31 percent (18-58) shooting and 5-of-18 (28 percent) from deep. The Owls forced Presbyterian to just 7-of-32 shooting in the first half and 42 percent in the second half to help earn the grind-it-out win. Kennesaw State also totaled more rebounds (49-47), assists (14-8) and offensive rebounds (14-11) to earn win the "hustle points" to help its first win of the season.
 
Defense and three 3-pointers by Dulkoski paced the Owls in the first half, holding a 22-18 edge after the first 20 minutes of play.
 
As a team, Kennesaw State held the Blue Hose to just 22 percent (7-of-32) shooting from the field and 2-of-8 (25 percent) from beyond the arc to help take a four-point advantage. The Owls also outrebounded Presbyterian 26-14 in the first half, including pulling down seven offensive rebounds to help KSU jump out to the lead.
 
Tied at 4-4 early in the first, Dulkoski came off the bench and went 3-for-7 from beyond the arc in the first half to help her teammates on the offensive end. The 5-8 guard from China Grove, North Carolina made her first 3-pointer in the first quarter with 2:02 remaining to break a 4-4 tie and later made two 3-pointers in the second quarter –including the Owls' final basket with 24 seconds left in the half – to pace Kennesaw State.
 
Preseason All-Conference forward Jasmine McAllister pulled down a first-half high eight rebounds and went 2-for-4 from the field with four points and also totaled three blocks, helping the Owls hold the Blue Hose to just 18 points in the first 20 minutes of action.
 
Up Next
Kennesaw State will be back in action on Thursday (Nov. 19) at 7:30 p.m. against Jacksonville State. The non-conference tilt will be the start of a three game road trip, as the Owls will also take on Florida and Florida A&M before playing host in the Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 28-29.
 
Coach Perry On The Win Versus Presbyterian…
"They are a tough team, a very blue-collar team. I got to give credit to them and how tough they played tonight. Jasmine McAllister didn't get the touches she usually gets and they did a great job defensively. Kelly Dulkoski is a good shooter and we needed every shot she made tonight. She (Kelly) was huge tonight and I am proud with the way we grinded out tonight."  
 - Kennesaw State Head Coach Nitra Perry 

Notes

• - The Owls and Blue Hose faced off for the first time since the 2007-08 season.
• - Kennesaw State now owns a 6-0 all-time mark against Presbyterian
• - Every player logged minutes in the game for Coach Perry, as Karly Frye led the team with 37 minutes.
• - Six players totaled at least two points in the scoring column, with Jasmine McAllister's 19 points leading the way.
• - Coach Perry played all 12 players on the bench for the first time this season, logging a minimum of five minutes.
• - Kennesaw State held the Blue Hose to just 21.9 percent (7-for-32) shooting in the first half and 18 points.
• - The Owls will take on Jacksonville State on Thursday, Nov. 29. The Owls are 8-10 all-time against the Gamecocks, but have won six of the last eight meetings.
• - Kennesaw State finished 7-9 on the pavement in 2014-15, winning four of its first six games away from Kennesaw State.
   
  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.