Tip:  7 p.m. (ET) | KSU Convocation Center
Watch | Live Stats
BROADCASTERS:
P-By-P: Wiley Ballard
Analyst: Cindy Gillam
Sideline: Autumn Johnson
Georgia State Series Info:
Georgia State leads, 7-1
Last Meeting:
2016, Georgia State, 62-59
Kennesaw State Notes | Georgia State Notes

GAMEDAY STORYLINES
• After seven straight road games to begin the 2017-18 campaign, Kennesaw State (1-6) makes its regular-season home debut on Thursday when it hosts Georgia State (1-4) at the KSU Convocation Center. Tip-off is 7 p.m. (ET) and the first 100 students will receive free pizza beginning at 6 p.m. in west wing.    
• Thursday's contest with the Panthers marks the first of three straight home games for the Owls. KSU will play three contests in the span of five days as they host Middle Georgia State on Saturday afternoon and conclude their home non-conference slate with a match-up against East Carolina on Monday.   
• The Owls are looking to continue their winning ways at home. KSU won five of its final six games at the KSU Convocation Center to conclude the 2016-17 season. The Owls captured their final two games a year ago, and have an all-time record of 81-80 in 11 seasons at the KSU Convocation Center dating back to 2006-07 campaign.
• Kennesaw State returns home after competing in the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament where it fell to No. 13/15 Maryland (89-35) and Maine (75-39) over the weekend.
• The 2017-18 season marks Kennesaw State's 13th at the Division I level and the Owls are 134-227 (.371) 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 career record of 455-439 (.509).
• Georgia State represents one of four opponents on the Owls' schedule from the state of Georgia, joining Georgia Tech (L, 86-48), Middle Georgia State (Dec. 2) and Savannah State (Jan. 3).
 
GUEST COACH
In her second year as Kennesaw State's head coach, Agnus Berenato is continuing her program of having a guest coach for each home game. Debra Day, who serves as senior director of development, central major gifts at KSU, will join Berenato, her staff and team on the bench for Thursday's game against Georgia State. Day, who also served in the military, joined KSU this past August.
 
SCOUTING GEORGIA STATE
The Panthers are 1-4 and coming off a 74-63 home loss to Western Kentucky on Sunday. Georgia State is averaging 58.2 points a contest and allowing 78.6 points a game. Sophomore Jada Lewis, who is the reigning Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year, leads the Panthers with 15.5 points a game.                  
 
SERIES VERSUS GEORGIA STATE
Thursday's contest marks the ninth meeting between the two programs, and the Panthers lead the all-time series, 7-1. Georgia State captured last year's meeting in Atlanta, defeating Kennesaw State, 62-59. The Owls lone victory was a 73-64 win at the KSU Convocation Center in 2015. In last season's meeting, Clara Young led a group of four Owls in double figures, scoring 15 points, collecting three rebounds, seven assists and four steals.
 
MAINE RECAP 
Sophomore Carlotta Gianolla scored a team-high 12 points to lead Kennesaw State during a 75-39 loss to Maine in the final game of the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament on Sunday. Gianolla was one of three Owls to reach double figures as freshman Kamiyah Street and senior Clara Young scored 11 points apiece. Maine's Fanny Walding led all players with 17 points. Maine used a 9-0 run late in the first quarter to build a 22-12 lead and seize control of the game. The Black Bears (4-2) held the Owls scoreless the final 3:44 of the opening quarter and led 42-21 at halftime. Kennesaw State struggled offensively, shooting 29 percent (15-for-52) from the field, while Maine shot 46 percent (30-for-65) from the floor and made eight three-pointers.
 
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 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) - a 2017-18 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 13.9 points a game. She has led KSU in scoring four times and reached double digits in five of seven contests. The Owls' rookie leads all ASUN freshmen in scoring, ranking fourth, and is second in steals (2.6 per game). 
 
GIANOLLA SHINES
Sophomore Carlotta Gianolla, who has been working herself back into game shape following an injury, has started the last three games and is second on the team with 7.3 points a game. She has reached double digits in two of her three starts while averaging 11.7 points and 5.0 rebounds a game.  She tallied a season-high 19 points and nine rebounds in the Owls' win over Presbyterian. Gianolla connected on 7-of-13 field goal attempts and was 5-for-9 from the foul line. The KSU sophomore paced the Owls with 12 points against Maine on Sunday and was named all-tournament at the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament.
 
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 fourth in Kennesaw State Division I history in assists (193), ninth in steals (81) and seventh in games started (58).
 
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
The Owls are back in action on Saturday when they host Middle Georgia State at the KSU Convocation Center beginning at 2 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.   
 
 

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