GEORGIA 82, KENNESAW STATE 40 Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)

ATHENS, Ga. – A stout Georgia defense proved to be a difficult puzzle for the Kennesaw State women's basketball team to solve as the Owls fell to the Bulldogs Tuesday night at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens.
 
Georgia (5-2) forced 19 first-half turnovers and used a 35-0 run over a 14-minute span to pull away from Kennesaw State (1-5) and post an 82-40 victory.
 
Junior guard Clara Young led the Owls with a career-high 16 points, while senior guard Deandrea Sawyers scored 10 points in her first start of the season.
 
Kennesaw State took a 7-5 lead on a 3-pointer by Young at the 6:22 mark of the first quarter before Georgia scored 35 straight points. The Owls' Aareon Smith snapped the run with a basket with 1:46 remaining in the second quarter.
 
"I thought in the first couple minutes we came out with a lot of energy and then all of a sudden we must have read the names on their jerseys and got intimidated," head coach Agnus Berenato said. "I think Georgia is a really good team, and compliments to Georgia. I think those girls played for (head coach) Joni (Taylor) tonight. It was her first night back and I think they have been waiting for her to get back. And they showed it."
 
After trailing 44-12 at halftime, Kennesaw State came out inspired in the second half and played Georgia to a 10-point game over the final 20 minutes.
 
"At halftime I let them know what I thought. I told them it was 0-0 and we coached in the second half for the possessions," Berenato said. "You want to keep it close and we even called some plays for the future. We had 19 turnovers in the first half and only five in the second half. So I have to look at just the second half.
 
"This team really listens and tries to do what you tell them and they responded," Berenato said. "We came in and knew it was going to be a learning experience."
 
The Owls suffered a tough break midway through the second quarter when their leading scorer, Allison Johnson, was forced to leave the game with an injury and did not return.
 
The Bulldogs controlled the first half by outscoring the Owls, 26-2 inside and producing 25 points off turnovers. Georgia had only five points off turnovers in the second half.
 
NEXT UP
The Owls return to action on Saturday (Dec. 3) when they travel to Macon to take on Mercer beginning at 2 p.m. (ET).

To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State women's basketball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook. Follow Coach Berenato on Twitter @KSUCoachB.