By: By Al Barba
Tip: 2 p.m. (ET)
Watch: NA | Live Stats
Maryland Series Info: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Maine Series Info: Maine Leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: 2005, Maine won, 88-56
Kennesaw State Game Notes
GAMEDAY STORYLINES
• Kennesaw State (1-4) continues its season-opening seven-game road trip when it takes on No. 13/15 Maryland (3-2) in the opening game of the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday. Tip-off is 2 p.m. (ET).
• Maryland (Big Ten) marks KSU's first nationally-ranked opponent since Dec. 15, 2013 when the KSU fell at No. 16 Georgia, 91-32. The Owls and Terrapins will meet for the first time, and the game also marks Kennesaw State's first against a Big Ten opponent.
• Sophomore Carlotta Gianolla and freshman Kamiyah Street each scored 19 points to lead KSU to a 60-51 victory at Presbyterian on Tuesday.
• Maryland represents one of five Power 5 Conference opponents on the Owls' schedule. KSU has already faced Clemson (L, 41-28), Ole Miss (L, 92-63) and Georgia Tech (L, 86-48). KSU will also face Miami (Dec. 19) in the Puerto Rico Classic.
• The 2017-18 season marks Kennesaw State's 13th at the Division I level and the Owls are 134-225 (.373) since the 2005-06 season.
• Head coach Agnus Berenato, who is in her 31st season as a Division I head coach, is in her second year leading the Owls. She has an all-time record of 455-437 (.510) in one-plus seasons at Kennesaw State.
• The Owls concluded the 2016-17 season with a 10-20 mark and advanced to the semifinals of the ASUN Conference Championship. KSU posted an 8-4 conference mark and earned the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament, their highest in program history.
• The Owls return one starter - redshirt senior Clara Young - from last year's team. Also returning for KSU is sophomore forward/center Carlotta Gianolla, who was the ASUN Conference's unanimous Freshman of the Year.
SCOUTING MARYLAND
The Terrapins (3-2) are ranked No. 13 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 15 in the AP rankings. Maryland's two losses have come to defending national champion South Carolina (94-86) and top-ranked Connecticut (97-72). Sophomore guard and Preseason Big Ten All-Conference Team member Kaila Charles (20.4) leads a group of five Terrapins scoring in double figures. Maryland is averaging 90.4 points a game, and have outscored their opponents by an average of 40.7 points in their three wins.
SERIES VERSUS MARYLAND
Friday's game between Kennesaw State and Maryland marks the first meeting between the two programs. It also represents the Owls' first contest against an opponent from the Big 10 Conference.
SCOUTING MAINE
The Black Bears (3-1) enter this weekend's tournament with on a three-game winning streak following a 100-40 victory over Maine at Fort Kent on Thursday (Nov. 16). Maine is averaging 70.0 points a contest and is led by sophomore guard Bianca Millan, who is contributing 20.4 points a contest.
SERIES VERSUS MAINE
Sunday's game between the Owls and Black Bears will mark the second time the two programs have met on the hardwood. Maine posted an 88-56 victory on its home court in 2005.
PRESBYTERIAN RECAP
Sparked by 19 points apiece from sophomore Carlotta Gianolla and freshman Kamiyah Street, Kennesaw State used a late run to post a 60-51 come-from-behind victory at Presbyterian on Tuesday. Gianolla and Street combined to go 11-for-25 from the field to help the Owls record their first win of the season. Ignited by its defense and better ball control in the second half, Kennesaw State closed out the game on a 19-1 over the final 5:56. The Owls held the Blue Hose scoreless the final 4:26 and, led by Street's defensive efforts, forced five turnovers over the final six minutes.
YOUTH SERVED
With five freshmen on its roster, Kennesaw State began the 2017-18 season as one of the youngest Division I teams in the country. KSU ranks seventh in the nation with 45.4 percent of its roster comprised of freshmen, while 63.6 percent of its players are either freshmen or sophomores, a mark that ranks 13th nationally. UNCG (87.7 percent) has the highest percentage of freshmen and sophomores, while Savannah State (64.3 percent) - an upcoming KSU opponent - has the highest percentage of freshmen on its roster.
STREET SOARS
Freshman guard Kamiyah Street has adjusted well to the college level as she currently leads the Owls in scoring, averaging 16.8 points a game. She has led KSU in scoring in each of the last four games while averaging 20.3 points a contest. Playing at less than 100 percent after running a fever earlier in the day, she tallied 19 points, four rebounds, three assists, three blocks and four steals at Presbyterian on Tuesday. The Owls' rookie enters the week leading all ASUN freshmen in scoring, ranking second, and tops the league with 3.4 steals a contest.
GIANOLLA SHINES
Sophomore Carlotta Gianolla, who has been working herself back into game shape following an injury, saw her most extensive playing time of the season at Presbyterian and responded with a season-high 19 points and nine rebounds. She connected on 7-of-13 field goal attempts and was 5-for-9 from the foul line.
YOUNG CLIMBING CAREER CHARTS
Redshirt-senior Clara Young has made the most of her opportunities during her two-plus seasons as an Owl. She is currently tied for fourth in Kennesaw State Division I history in assists (191), ninth in steals (78) and seventh in games started (56).
PRESEASON HONORS
Sophomore Carlotta Gianolla was a unanimous selection to the 2017-18 ASUN Preseason All-Conference team. Gianolla is the reigning ASUN Conference Freshman of the Year after averaging 11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24 games during the 2016-17 campaign.
Gianolla, who was also a unanimous pick to the ASUN Conference All-Freshman Team, finished in the top 10 of the conference in points per game (10th), rebounding (6th) and field goal percentage (9th). She led all ASUN Conference freshmen in scoring, produced 17 double-digit scoring games and reached double digits in rebounds six times. She recorded six double-doubles and led the Owls in scoring and rebounding seven times.
OWLS 4TH IN ASUN COACHES POLL
Kennesaw State, coming off a 10-20 season and fourth-place finish a year ago, was picked fourth in the ASUN Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Defending tournament champion Florida Gulf Coast, garnered the top spot after receiving 62 points and six first-place votes. Jacksonville was second, after collecting two first-place votes and 53 points. Kennesaw State received 39 points.
UP NEXT
Following their weekend in South Florida, the Owls will return home to the KSU Convocation Center on Thursday (Nov. 30) to host Georgia State in their regular-season home opener. Tip-off is 7 p.m.
2016-17 REVIEW
• KSU hosted an ASUN Tournament game for first time in program history.
• The Owls posted a 62-60 home victory over NJIT for their first ASUN tourney win since 2011.
• Carlotta Gianolla became just the second KSU individual to earn ASUN Conference Freshman of the Year, joining Taylor Mills (2011-12). She was a unanimous pick.
• Senior Deandrea Sawyers scored 20 points in the Owls' season finale at Stetson to become KSU's Division I all-time leading scorer with 1,380.
• Sawyers was a second team All-ASUN selection, while Gianolla was selected to the All-Freshman Team. Clara Young and Chloe Branch were named to the All-Academic Team.
WELCOME TO THE NEST
Agnus Berenato and her staff signed two highly talented recruits during last week's early signing period. Amani Johnson (North Versailles, Pa. / East Allegheny HS) and Peyton Lewis (Hampton, Ga. / Locust Grove HS) will enroll at Kennesaw State next fall and join the Owls' roster. The focus for Berenato and her staff was strengthening the backcourt as they added a shooting guard (Lewis) and point guard (Johnson).
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.
- #GoKSUOwls -
