KENNESAW STATE AT JACKSONVILLE Jan. 21 | 1 P.M. | Swisher Gym Watch | Live Stats | KSU Game Notes Twitter: @KSUOwlsWBB

GAMEDAY STORYLINES
• Kennesaw State (2-15, 1-2) and Jacksonville (14-4, 3-0) continue ASUN Conference play Saturday (Jan. 21) at the KSU Convocation Center. Tip-off is 1 p.m. (ET).
• The Owls continue a challenging early stretch to their ASUN Conference schedule as Jacksonville represents the third straight opponent ranked in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll. The Dolphins are ranked No. 24, while KSU's two previous foes - Florida Gulf Coast and Stetson (No. 21) are ranked No. 17 and No. 21, respectively.
• Kennesaw State has improved its offensive production during ASUN Conference play, averaging 60.7 points a game, and has three players - Clara Young (13.0), Deandrea Sawyers (12.7) and Allison Johnson (12.3) - scoring in double figures.
• Head Coach Agnus Berenato will match strategy with a former assistant in Jacksonville head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, who was part of Berenato's staff at Pitt.
• 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 446-428 (.510) record and guided her teams to 11 postseason appearances (5 NCAA, 6 WNIT).
 
GUEST COACH
Angie Pollock, grandmother of Kennesaw State Athletics administrative associate Victoria Roach, will serve as a guest coach and have a seat on the Owls' bench. She is a retired school resource officer.
 
FLORIDA GULF COAST RECAP
Kennesaw State played defending ASUN Conference regular-season champion Florida Gulf Coast even for a half before the sharp-shooting Eagles caught fire in the second half and went on to post a 75-56 victory over the Owls Monday (Jan. 16) at the KSU Convocation Center. Senior guard Deandrea Sawyers had the hot hand early for Kennesaw State, scoring 17 of her game and season-high 23 points in the first half as the Owls built a 20-13 lead after one quarter and were tied 30-30 at halftime. However, Florida Gulf Coast found its stroke in the second half, outscoring Kennesaw State 45-26 in the second half, and shot 41.7 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes. The Eagles finished the game converting 41.5 percent of their field goal attempts.
 
SCOUTING JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville, the defending ASUN Conference Tournament champion, begins play with a 14-4 overall record and a 3-0 mark in conference play. The Dolphins are ranked No. 24 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll, and are on a five-game winning streak. Jacksonville is coming off a 75-56 win at NJIT on Monday (Jan. 16). The Dolphins are averaging 68.2 points a contest and outrebounding their opponents by an average of 11.1 rebounds a contest. Senior guard Sherranda Reddick leads a group of three Jacksonville players in double figures and tops the ASUN Conference with 18.3 points a contest.
 
SERIES VERSUS JACKSONVILLE
Saturday's game will mark the 24th meeting between Jacksonville and Kennesaw State and the Dolphins lead the all-time series, 16-7. Jacksonville has won seven straight in the series dating back to the 2013-14 season.
 
UP NEXT
Following Saturday's game, the Owls will conclude its trip to Jacksonville by visiting North Florida on Monday (Jan. 23). Tip-off is 7 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.
 
SOLID DEFENSE
Kennesaw State has done well on the defensive end during its three conference games as the Owls rank second in the ASUN Conference in field goal percentage defense, holding their opponents to 40.0 percent shooting. Jacksonville leads the ASUN with a 37.3 mark.
 
OWLS IN ASUN RANKINGS
Several Kennesaw State players rank among the ASUN Conference statistical leaders. The following is a list:
 
REBOUNDING
Allison Johnson (No. 5; 7.3 rpg.)
 
ASSISTS
Clara Young (No. 4; 3.2)
 
BLOCKED SHOTS
Allison Johnson (No. 3; 0.9)
 
MINUTES PLAYED
Clara Young (No. 3; 35.1 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.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video