Kennesaw State University Athletics

Score: Kennesaw State 73, Austin Peay 65
Records: Kennesaw State (4-6), Austin Peay (2-9)
Key Players: Kelly Dulkoski (18 points, 4-of-7 3-pointers); Deandrea Sawyers (16 points, 9 rebounds); Aareon Smith (23 points, 5-of-8 3-pointers); 3-Point Shooting (10-of-21); 3-point defense (3-of-12 shooting)

Box Score (XML) | Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Press Conference | Highlights

KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State women's basketball team fought off visiting Austin Peay Saturday (Dec. 12) afternoon at the KSU Convocation Center, taking a 73-65 final in a non-conference tilt.

The Owls (4-6), who improved to 4-2 on their home floor this season, was led offensively by redshirt sophomore Kelly Dulkoski (18), junior Deandrea Sawyers (16) and forward Aareon Smith(23)—which totaled a new career high—who combined for 57 points on 16-of-29 shooting. The three combined for all 10 3-pointers, which fell two makes shy of tying a team single game record.

The difference of the game was the fourth quarter, where Kennesaw State outscored Austin Peay (2-9) 24-13—the largest margin in a quarter for either team in the game.
 
A large part of that was Smith, who rallied the Owls back from an early five-point deficit by totaling 11 points in the final 10 minutes of action. The junior did not miss a shot in the quarter, going 5-for-5 at the free throw line and a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc –both back-to-back makes with just under three minutes remaining to push KSU's lead to six.
 
The Owls' defense also locked down in the final quarter, holding the Governors to 5-for-19 (26 percent) shooting and 0-for-2 from beyond the arc. In fact, Kennesaw State held Austin Peay to just two of its last 10 field goals to pull away for the win.  
 
Dulkoski, who went 10-for-21 from beyond the arc in her previous three games, started off hot once again, making a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter to jumpstart the Owls' offense. The redshirt sophomore totaled eight points in the quarter on 3-of-5 shooting from the field to lift the Owls in the first 10 minutes of action.
 
On the other end, a ferocious defensive attack from KSU helped the Owls pull away at the end of the quarter. Kennesaw State held the Governors to a scoring drought over final four minutes of the quarter, holding them to 2-of-10 shooting over that span. The drought allowed KSU to take a 15-11 edge thanks to a 6-0 run to end the final minutes of the first 10 minutes of action. 
 
With Dulkoski rolling early, it was Sawyers and Smith that backed the Owls in the second quarter, combining for 16 of KSU's 19 points to help take a 34-30 lead into halftime.
 
Sawyers led the charge early in the opening minutes of the second, tallying seven straight points and Smith closed out the half by scoring eight straight points to hold off the Govs' late quarter push –which, in fact, took the lead (28-27) with 1:23 remaining.
 
For the half, the Owls shot 12-of-31 (39 percent) from the field and 43 percent (6-of-14) from beyond the arc. The triple threat of Dulkoski, Sawyers and Smith combined for 30 of KSU's 34 points in the half on 10-of-17 shooting from the field.
 
Up Next
Kennesaw State will hit the pavement on a three-game road journey, beginning with a non-conference tilt against Gardner-Webb on Tuesday (Dec. 22) evening. The game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. ET.
 
Coach Perry Quote
"I felt like everyone stepped up today. It was a total team effort and Aareon Smith was really huge for us tonight. Everyone did what they were supposed to do and I am proud of the effort. The urgency our group had today was unbelievable and it was a great way to close out the game. Aareon Smith was perfect today and played a tremendous game."
 - Kennesaw State Head Coach Nitra Perry

Notes
- The meeting between Austin Peay and Kennesaw State marked only the third time the two programs squared off dating back to the 2006-07 season.
- Aareon Smith broke her single-game career high mark of 20 points set earlier this season against Georgia State.
- Smith's 23 points is a new career high.
- The triple threat of Dulkoski, Smith and Sawyers combined for 57 points, which was 78 percent of KSU's scoring today.
- Only nine total players between the two schools score points.
- The Owls went 10-for-21 from deep, which fell two makes shy of tying the single game record for most 3-pointers.
- KSU went 17-for-24 from the free throw, which was 71 percent.

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.