By: By Al Barba
Tip: 11 a.m. (ET)
Watch:
ACC Network
Live Stats:
KSUOwls.com
Series Info: Clemson leads, 4-0
Last Meeting: 2010, Clemson, 68-57
KSU Notes
GAMEDAY STORYLINES
• Kennesaw State (0-0) opens its 36th season when it travels to neighboring South Carolina on Friday (Nov. 10) to take on Clemson (0-0) at Littlejohn Coliseum. Tip-off is 11 a.m. and the game will be broadcast on the ACC Network.
• Clemson represents one of three ACC schools on the Owls' 2017-18 schedule. Kennesaw State will visit Georgia Tech on Nov. 15 and has a potential match-up against Miami when it travels to Florida for the University of Miami Thanksgiving Classic (Nov. 24-26).
• The 2017-18 season marks Kennesaw State's 13th at the Division I level and the Owls have posted a 133-221 (.376) record since the 2005-06 season.
• Head coach
Agnus Berenato, who is entering her 31st season as Division I head coach, begins her second year leading the Owls. She has an all-time record of 454-433 (.512), including a 10-20 mark in her first season at Kennesaw State.
• The Owls are 20-15 all-time in season openers, including 2-11 since moving to the Division I level prior to the 2005-06 season. KSU's last season-opening victory came during the 2014-15 season when it defeated College of Charleston, 68-61.
• Kennesaw State concluded the 2016-17 season with a 10-20 mark and advanced to the semifinals of the ASUN Conference Championship. The Owls posted an 8-4 conference mark and earned the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament, their highest in program history.
• KSU returns one starter - redshirt senior Clara Young - from last year's team. Also returning for the Owls is sophomore forward/center Carlotta Gianolla, who was the ASUN Conference's unanimous Freshman of the Year.
YOUTH SERVED
With five freshmen on its roster, Kennesaw State enters 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.
PRESEASON HONORS
Sophomore Carlotta Gianolla was a unanimous selection to the 2017-18 ASUN Preseason All-Conference team. Gianolla enters the upcoming season as 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, was picked first in the poll after receiving 62 points and six first-place votes. Jacksonville was selected second, after collecting two first-place votes and 53 points. Kennesaw State garnered 39 points.
SCOUTING CLEMSON
The Tigers are coming off a 15-16 season a year ago that included a 3-13 mark and tie for 13th in the ACC. Clemson begins its fifth season under head coach Audra Smith, who has compiled a 41-82 (.333) record. The Tigers are led by senior wing Nelly Perry, who returns as the team's top scorer after averaging 12.7 points and 4.2 rebounds a contest. Clemson averaged 59.1 points and 36.9 rebounds a contest during the 2016-17 campaign.
SERIES VERSUS CLEMSON
Friday's contest marks the fifth meeting between Clemson and Kennesaw State, with the Tigers leading the all-time series, 4-0. The two programs last met in 2010, and Clemson recorded a 68-57 home victory. Three of the four previous meetings have been played in Clemson.
UP NEXT
Following Friday's season-opener at Clemson, the Owls will travel to Oxford, Miss. to take on Ole Miss on Monday (Nov. 13). Tip-off is 8:30 p.m. (ET) at The Pavilion.
EXHIBITION RECAP
Freshmen Alexis Poole and Kamiyah Street led a group of five players in double figures as Kennesaw State defeated Thomas University, 68-40, in an exhibition on Sunday. Poole recorded a double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds, while Street contributed 13 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and six steals. Senior Clara Young added 12 points, while junior Janae Omusi and freshman Caroline Dan each scored 10 points.
2016-17 ASUN WEEKLY HONORS
Player of the Week Deandrea Sawyers (Jan. 30)
Newcomer of the Week Carlotta Gianolla (Dec. 26)
Newcomer of the Week Carlotta Gianolla (Feb. 6)
Newcomer of the Week Carlotta Gianolla (Feb. 27)
WINNING FORMULA
In their 10 wins a year ago, the Owls averaged 71.3 points a game, outscoring their opponents by 10.2 points a contest, and shooting 40.4 percent from the field. KSU was also dominant on the boards as it averaged 42.6 rebounds a game, and outrebounded its opponents by 12.0 rebounds a contest. Senior Deandrea Sawyers led the way, averaging 16.5 points a contest, while freshman Carlotta Gianolla averaged 14.1 points and 8.1 rebounds.
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 this 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 signed a shooting guard (Lewis) and a 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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