FLORIDA GULF COAST AT KENNESAW STATE Jan. 16 | 12 P.M. | KSU Convocation Center Watch | Live Stats | KSU Game Notes  Twitter: @KSUOwlsWBB

GAMEDAY STORYLINES
• Kennesaw State (2-14, 1-1) and Florida Gulf Coast (13-6, 2-0) continue ASUN Conference play Monday (Jan. 16) at the KSU Convocation Center. Tip-off is 12 p.m. (ET).
• The Owls are looking to rebound from a 65-56 loss to Stetson on Saturday (Jan. 14) while Florida Gulf Coast enters Monday's game with a seven-game winning streak.
• Kennesaw State is averaging 63.0 points and 37.0 rebounds a game in ASUN Conference play, and is outscoring its opponents by 3.0 points a contest, and has a +2.0 rebounding margin.
• Through two conference games, the Owls have three players - Clara Young (15.5), Allison Johnson (14.0) and Carlotta Gianolla (12.5) - averaging in double figures.
• The Owls are 2-0 this season when scoring 70 or more appoints. KSU scored 72 points in a 72-60 win over Savannah State and reached the 70-point plateau in a 70-55 victory at Lipscomb.
• The 2016-17 season represents the 35th year of Kennesaw State women's basketball and 12th at the NCAA Division I level.
• Highly-respected head coach Agnus Berenato is in her first season leading the Owls' program.
• Berenato is in her 30th overall season as a head coach that includes tenures at Rider (1981-85), Georgia Tech (1988-2003), Pitt (2003-13) and Kennesaw State. Heading into Saturday's game, Berenato has posted a 446-427 (.511) record and guided her teams to 11 postseason appearances (5 NCAA, 6 WNIT).
 
PAJAMA PARTY
The Owls will host a movie-watching pajama party following Monday's game. The Secret Life of Pets will be shown on the KSU Convocation Center. Fans are encouraged to wear their pajamas and bring along their pillows and blankets as the players will join them on the court following the game. The first 250 fans will receive a free KSU pillow case, and concessions will offer a special $5 popcorn and soda package. Admission to the game is free.
 
GUEST COACH
Former Georgia Tech standout Jessica Williams will serve as a guest coach and have a seat on the bench when the Owls take on Florida Gulf Coast. As a member of the Yellow Jackets, Williams played under KSU head coach Agnus Berenato from 2002-06.
 
STETSON RECAP
A strong second-half performance was not enough to overcome a slow start as Kennesaw State fell 65-56 to visiting Stetson in an ASUN Conference game on Saturday (Jan. 14). Junior guard Clara Young scored a team-high 14 points and freshman forward Carlotta Gianolla added 12 points and a team-leading eight rebounds for the Owls. Brianti Saunders, who entered the game second in the ASUN Conference in scoring with 16.6 points a game, led all players with 16 points for the Hatters.
 
SCOUTING FLORIDA GULF COAST
The Eagles are currently 13-6 overall and 2-0 in conference play following a 90-63 victory at Lipscomb on Saturday (Jan. 16). FGCU is averaging 71.6 points a game and is led by junior forward Julien Rosemarie, who is scoring 11.4 points a contest. The Eagles, who were picked to finish second the ASUN Conference preseason coaches' poll, is ranked No. 17 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll.
 
SERIES VERSUS FLORIDA GULF COAST
Monday's game will mark the 21st meeting between Florida Gulf Coast and Kennesaw State, and the Eagles lead the all-time series, 18-2. FGCU has won 12 straight in the series, with the Owls' last victory a 63-52 home win on Feb. 14, 2011. 
 
UP NEXT
Following Monday's game, the Owls will begin a stretch of three straight road games when they travel to Florida to meet defending ASUN Conference champion Jacksonville on Saturday (Jan. 21). Tip-off is 2 p.m. (ET).
 
CHAMPIONS IN THE CLASSROOM
The Owls excelled in the classroom during the fall semester, posting a program record 3.57 grade-point average. A total of four student-athletes - Chloe Branch, Carlotta Gianolla, Katie Polinsky and Alexandra Landby - recorded perfect 4.0 GPAs.
 
THE GRADUATE
Redshirt junior Chloe Branch participated in commencement exercises on Dec. 13. The Owls' forward earned a bachelor's degree in political science and is pursuing a master's degree in public administration.
 
GIANOLLA ASUN NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Freshman Carlotta Gianolla was recently honored for her impressive performance during the Puerto Rico Classic by being named the ASUN Conference Women's Basketball Newcomer of the Week (Dec. 26). The Owls' rookie averaged 12.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and connected on 43.2 percent of her field goal attempts, while averaging 28.3 minutes a contest. She was KSU's leading scorer in two of three games, reached double figures in each contest, and posted her first career double-double. Gianolla opened the tournament with 12 points and five rebounds versus Arkansas State before scoring a career-high 14 points and grabbing nine rebounds versus Portland State. The Marcon, Italy native capped the week by contributing 10 points and collecting a career-high 10 rebounds versus Xavier.
 
OWLS IN ASUN RANKINGS
Several Kennesaw State players rank among the ASUN Conference statistical leaders. The following is a list:
 
REBOUNDING
Allison Johnson (No. 4; 7.3 rpg.)
 
ASSISTS
Clara Young (No. 4; 3.3)
 
FREE THROW PERCENTAGE
Iceis Walker (T5; 80.0 pct. - 28-for-35)
 
BLOCKED SHOTS
Allison Johnson (No. 4; 0.8)
 
MINUTES PLAYED
Clara Young (No. 3; 34.9 mpg.)
 
COACHING CONNECTIONS
The 2016-17 schedule features two opponents that are led by former assistants of first-year head coach Agnus Berenato. MaChelle Joseph, who was an assistant under Berenato at Georgia Tech, is now leading the Yellow Jackets' program, while her former assistant at Pitt, Yolett McPhee-McCuin, is now guiding the Jacksonville program.
 
THE COACHING STAFF
Head coach Agnus Berenato has assembled an experienced and well-respected coaching staff. Including Berenato's 29 years as a Division I head coach, the KSU coaching staff has a combined 55 years of experience at the Division I level. The staff is comprised of Khadija Head (8 years), Sherill Baker (4 years) and Lisa Pace (14 years).
 
WELCOME TO THE NEST
Head coach Agnus Berenato announced her first signing class on Thursday as the coaching staff inked four players to National Letters-of-Intent and one individual to a Grant-In-Aid. Brianna Dixon (Duluth, Ga. / Duluth High School), Breanna Hoover (Beaver Falls, Pa. / Blackhawk High School), Lexi Mann (Stone Mountain, Ga. / Greater Atlanta Christian) and Alexis Poole (Ellenwood, Ga. / Stockbridge High School) have signed National Letters-of-Intent and will enroll at Kennesaw State next fall. Caroline Dan (Copenhagen, Denmark / Falkonergaarden Gymnasium) has signed a Grant-In-Aid and will join the program in January.
 
OWLS 6TH IN ASUN COACHES POLL
Kennesaw State, coming off an 11-19 season and fifth-place finish a year ago, was picked sixth in the ASUN Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Jacksonville, which captured last season's conference tournament, was picked first in the poll after receiving 60 points and five first-place votes. Regular-season champion Florida Gulf Coast was voted second, after collecting two first-place votes and 55 points. Kennesaw State garnered 23 points.
 
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.   
 
 
 
 

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