Score: Kennesaw State 82, NJIT 77
Records: Kennesaw State (9-14, 4-4), NJIT (4-19, 1-7)
Key Players: Allison Johnson (16 points, 13 rebounds); Jasmine McAllister (20 points, 7 boards); Deandrea Sawyers (14 points); Kelly Dulkoski (14 points)

Box Score (PDF) | Box Score
 
NEWARK, N.J.  – In its first trip in program's history to NJIT, the Kennesaw State women's basketball team clashed with host NJIT in a double overtime showdown, taking down the Highlanders 82-77 at the Fleisher Athletic Center on Saturday (Feb. 6) afternoon.  

With the win, the Owls defeated NJIT for the second time in a week and moved to 2-0 all-time in program history.

For the day, Kennesaw State was led by its presence in the paint, outscoring the Highlanders 40-24 down low. The Owls also dominated off the bench, totaling an 18-11 advantage over NJIT.

Senior Jasmine McAllister led the Owls with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Allison Johnson recorded her second career double-double with career highs 16 points and 13 rebounds. Kelly Dulkoski and Deandrea Sawyers also chipped in with 14 points each in the hard-fought victory.

Trailing 73-72 in the second overtime, redshirt sophomore Clara Young hit a corner 3-pointer to put the Owls in the lead for good at 75-73. Young later hit three free throws to score six double overtime points to help Kennesaw State secure the victory.
 
For the game, the Owls shot 28-for-63 (44.4 percent) overall from the floor, and finished 21-for-28 at the free throw line. Kennesaw State also hit five 3-pointers from beyond the arc for the contest, while holding NJIT to 38.9 percent shooting from the floor in 50 minutes of action.
 
Trailing by two at halftime, the Owls turned their attention to defense, holding the Highlanders to nine points in the quarter on 4-of-15 (26.7 percent) shooting to help Kennesaw State push back into the ballgame that saw eight lead changes and 11 ties throughout the game.  
 
The defensive pressure opened things up for Kennesaw State on the offensive end, putting up a game-high 18 points on 6-for-16 shooting and made 5-of-7 (71.4 percent) from the charity stripe to help outscore NJIT by nine in the frame.
 
The Owls trailed 12-6 in the opening minutes of the first quarter, but a 9-1 run to close out the frame propelled Kennesaw State to a 15-13 edge over the Highlanders after 10 minutes of action.
 
KSU pounded the ball inside, outscoring NJIT 10-6 inside the paint in the opening frame. McAllister led the Owls on 3-for-3 shooting and six points in the first quarter, while the Owls shot 46.2 percent in the frame to take a two-point edge into the second.
 
However, the Highlanders responded by outscoring the Owls by four, 19-15, in the second to take a 32-30 lead into the half.  NJIT shot 53 (8-for-15) percent from the field in the second frame and held KSU to 41.6 percent shooting in the quarter to help take a two-point edge into the third.
 
For the half, Johnson paced the Owls with seven points and six rebounds—three offensive rebounds—on 3-of-5 shooting. In all, Kennesaw State had a balanced scoring attack in the first 20 minutes of action, as five players scored four or more points.
 
Next
Kennesaw State will return to the KSU Convocation for three games in a six day stretch, taking on USC Upstate (Feb. 10), Jacksonville (Feb.13) and North Florida (Feb. 13) next week. All games will be broadcasted on ESPN3.
 
Coach Perry Quote
"We made our free throws down the stretch. Allison Johnson and Clara Young hit some big shots at the end and we really played like a team today. I thought we had some good defensive stops and we just gutted it out tonight. Clara hit a big shot down the end and free throws, I was proud of her. Allison is settling in and she is very aggressive. She found a way to get it done and was relentless down low. We always want to win inside-out, I felt like everyone contributed tonight and it was good to see. You have to credit NJIT for fighting tonight. The turnaround was quick and they were a tough team."
 - Kennesaw State Head Coach Nitra Perry

Notes
- This marked the second meeting between the two programs' history, with the first meeting occurring just a week ago.
- The trip to Newark, New Jersey marked the first time the Owls traveled to NJIT.
- The Owls now hold a 2-0 all-time mark against the Highlanders.
- The Highlanders joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2015, the newest member of the eight-team league.
- Deandrea Sawyers, who was 62 points away from 1,000 career points entering the day, made her first 3-pointer since Jan. 23 against Stetson.
- Sawyers is now 48 points away from 1,000 career points She would be the third player to accomplish the milestone since the Owls turned Division I in 2005-06.
- Sawyers scored double-figure digits for the first time in four games.
- Allison Johnson pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds, it was the second time this season she reached double-figure digits in the rebounding column.
- This was the 16^th time Jasmine McAllister scored in double-figures, and marked the fourth straight game it has occurred.
- McAllister's 20 pointers were the most scored in a single game this season. Her career high is 26 points set a season ago.
- The Owls' 82 points are the most scored in a game this season.
 
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