KENNESAW STATE 79, USC UPSTATE 71 (OT) Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)

SPARTANBURG, S.C.  – Senior Deandrea Sawyers scored 15 of her career-high 29 points in overtime, and added 12 rebounds to lead the Kennesaw State women's basketball team to a 79-71 victory over USC Upstate in an ASUN Conference game Saturday at the G.B. Hodge Center in Spartanburg, S.C.
 
Sawyers, who had two points at halftime, took over the game after intermission, scoring 12 points in the second half to help lift the Owls (4-16, 3-3) to back-to-back road wins for the first time this season.
 
Junior Chloe Branch scored a career-high 14 points and freshman Carlotta Gianolla contributed 10 points and eight rebounds in support of Sawyers.
 
"It was a tremendous team win for us," head coach Agnus Berenato said. "Tonight was a breakthrough for us. We had a breakthrough last week at North Florida, and this was another huge step for us. We knew it was going to be a game of runs, and we had to weather the storm. I never lost faith and I knew if it got to overtime we were going to win."
 
USC Upstate (8-13, 1-5) had an opportunity to clinch the victory in regulation when Brittney Delva was fouled with 1.7 seconds remaining and the scored tied, 60-60. However, she missed both free throw attempts to send the game into overtime.
 
From there, it was all Sawyers as she scored the first four points of the extra period to give Kennesaw State a 64-60 advantage, and a lead the Owls would never surrender.
 
"Deandrea was simply amazing. She imposed her will and put the team on her back and said we were not going to be denied. That's what seniors do," Berenato said.
 
The Owls' cause was aided by a great night on the boards as Kennesaw State outrebounded USC Upstate, 47-29, and had 16 offensive rebounds that led to 15 second-chance points.
 
With Branch contributing on the offensive end, the Owls also received a solid effort from Deja McPhee, who scored eight points and collected nine rebounds.  
 
"Chloe played her role and did her job in the post. She was composed and her minutes were really valuable as we knew USC Upstate was going to focus on Carlotta," Berenato said. "Chloe really stepped up to the plate and Deja also had a good game for us."
 
The Owls produced their second-best shooting game of the season, connecting on 43.9 percent of their field goal attempts, and shot a season-best 86.4 percent (19-for-22) from the foul line. Kennesaw State also equaled a season-high with 47 rebounds.
 
"Before the game we talked about that this could be a breakthrough win for us," Berenato said. "We really wanted to be 3-3 (in ASUN play) after today, and the team really responded. The team is starting to understand our philosophy and the project."
 
NEXT UP
After three straight road games, the Owls will return home to the KSU Convocation Center on Thursday (Feb. 2) when they host NJIT at 7 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.