Score: Kennesaw State 59, Xavier 62
Records: Kennesaw State (4-9), Xavier (9-2)
Key Players: Aareon Smith (18 points, 4-of-6 3-pointers); Jasmine McAllister (13 points, 15 rebounds); Kelly Dulkoski (14 points)
 
Box Score (XML) | Box Score (PDF)

CINCINNATI, OHIO – The Kennesaw State women's basketball team led for more than 31 minutes in the game, but could not hold off a late Xavier rally and dropped a non-conference tilt to the Musketeers at the Cintas Center on Monday (Dec. 21) afternoon, 62-59.

The Owls (4-9) was paced offensively by Aareon Smith (18), Kelly Dulkoski (14) and Jasmine McAllister – who combined for 45 of Kennesaw State's 59 points. For the game, Kennesaw State shot 43.4 percent from the field and 6-of-14 from beyond the arc. KSU totaled 15 assists on 23 field goals and outrebounded the Musketeers (9-2), 34-33.

The Owls jumped out the gate with hot shooting in the first quarter, hitting 11-for-17 (65 percent) from the field to take a 24-12 lead after the opening 10 minutes of play.
 
Kennesaw State soared out to a 13-2 advantage and saw its lead increase to 17-4 before an Xavier timeout. McAllister and Dulkoski carried Kennesaw State offensively in the quarter, combining for 13 of KSU's 24 points.
 
Up 12 entering the second quarter, KSU held off Xavier's 14-6 run to begin the quarter with the sharp shooting off the hand of A. Smith. The guard scored 11 of her 16 first half points –going 4-for-6 from the field and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc— in the second to help the Owls enter halftime with a 43-35 lead.
 
For the half, Kennesaw State shot 17-for-30 (56.7 percent) from the field and 50 (5-for-10) percent from beyond the arc. The Owls also made 4-of-6 free throws at the charity stripe and totaled 10 assists on 17 field goals.
 
However, the Musketeers' resiliency showed in the third and fourth quarters, outscoring Kennesaw State 14-9 in the quarter to pull within 52-49.  McAllister, who had seven points and seven rebounds at the half—totaled four points and four rebounds in the third to notch her sixth double-double of the season.
 
Xavier then continued its momentum in the fourth, grabbing its first lead with 6:35 remaining in the fourth quarter and never looked back—the Musketeers outscored the Owls 13-7 in the final 10 minutes— to win its ninth game of the season.
 
Down three with one final possession, the Owls' guard Clara Young –who notched a career high eight assists—3-point attempted rattled in and out of the rim for the game-tying shot, sending Xavier home with the victory.
 
Up Next
Kennesaw State ends its three-game road trip and will have a week off before welcoming Thomas University (Ga.) to the KSU Convocation Center on Tuesday (Dec. 29) afternoon. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN3.
 
Coach Perry Quote
"I thought our kids laid it all out there on the line tonight. I really felt like tonight we were the better team and the score may not reflect that, but that's how I felt. The team bought into coming out of the gate with a lot of energy and really punched them in the mouth with a great start. We shared the ball really well and got everything we wanted from an offensive perspective. We got a great look at the basket at the end to tie up the ballgame and the effort was there. Jasmine (McAllister) was great tonight. She laid it all out there and gave everything she had. Kelly (Dulkoski) has been very consistent and Aareon (Smith) continued her fight and good shooting. I feel like we are right were we need to be heading into the break."
 - Kennesaw State Head Coach Nitra Perry
 
Notes
- This was the second time the Owls played against the Musketeers in as many seasons, with KSU taking a 61-60 final at the KSU Convocation Center.
- Jasmine McAllister recorded her sixth double-double of the season.
- The double-double marked her second consecutive game notching that statistic.
- Aareon Smith recorded 16 points in the first half, which accounted for 37 percent of the Owls' points in the first 20 minutes.
- Kelly Dulkoski scored double-figure digits for the fourth time in five games.
- Dulkoski, McAllister, and Smith combined for 45 points – which was 76 percent of KSU's points.
- Clara Young notched a career-high eight assists.
 
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