Tip:  2 p.m. (ET)
ESPN3 | Live Stats
BROADCASTERS:
P-By-P: Justin Hanover
Analyst: Cindy Gillam
Sideline: Autumn Johnson
Middle Georgia Series Info: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Kennesaw State Game Notes

GAMDAY STORYLINES
• Following a victory over Georgia State (71-61) in its home opener on Thursday, Kennesaw State (2-6) will seek its second straight win when it hosts Middle Georgia State (3-5) Saturday at the KSU Convocation Center. Tip-off is 2 p.m. (ET).    
• Saturday's contest with the Knights marks the second of three straight home games for the Owls. KSU is in the midst of playing three contests in the span of five days as the schedule includes Georgia State (W, 71-61), Middle Georgia State on Saturday afternoon and East Carolina on Monday (Dec. 4).    
• 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, and following Thursday's victory, has won six of seven and three in a row. The Owls are 82-80 in 12 seasons at the KSU Convocation Center dating back to the 2006-07 campaign.
• Kennesaw State is coming off its best performance of the season in its win over Georgia State, establishing season-highs for points in the first the half (39), field goal percentage (49.1 percent), blocked shots (5) and points scored (71).
• The 2017-18 season marks Kennesaw State's 13th at the Division I level and the Owls are 135-227 (.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 career record of 456-439 (.509).
• Middle Georgia State represents one of four opponents on the Owls' schedule from the state of Georgia, joining Georgia Tech (L, 86-48), Georgia State (W, 71-61) and Savannah State (Jan. 3).
 
GUEST COACH
Mindy Mager-DeBruce, who serves as assistant athletics director for compliance/Title IX coordinator, will join head coach Agnus Berenato and her team on the bench as a guest coach for Saturday's game versus Middle Georgia State. 
 
SCOUTING MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE
The Knights, an NAIA member, are currently 3-5 on the season following a 72-56 loss at Faulkner University on Thursday. Middle Georgia State is averaging 62.2 points a contest and allowing 63.0 points a game. Junior guard Dexshalyn Polite paces the Knights with 15.1 points a contest.       
 
SERIES VERSUS MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE
Saturday's game between Kennesaw State and Middle Georgia State marks the first meeting between the two programs.
 
GEORGIA STATE RECAP 
Returning to the KSU Convocation Center for the first time this season after opening the year with seven straight road games, Kennesaw State took a liking to its home surroundings and turned in a 71-61 victory over Georgia State on Thursday. Freshman Kamiyah Street scored a game-high 26 points, while freshman Lexi Mann contributed a career-high 11 points and added seven rebounds, and sophomore Carlotta Gianolla chipped in 12 points to lead the Owls. Kennesaw State used a 10-0 run midway through the first quarter to take a 12-7 lead and never trailed the rest of the game, outscoring Georgia State in three of the four quarters. The Owls scored a season-high 39 points in the first half to lead 39-26 at halftime. It marked the first time this season KSU took a lead into the second half.  
 
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 SOARING
Freshman guard Kamiyah Street has adjusted well to the college level as she currently leads the Owls in scoring, averaging 15.4 points a game. She has led KSU in scoring five times and reached double digits in six of eight contests. The Owls' rookie leads all ASUN freshmen in scoring, ranking second, and is tied for first in steals (2.9 per game). 
 
GIANOLLA SHINES
Sophomore Carlotta Gianolla, who is returning to form following an injury, has started the last four games and is second on the team with 7.9 points a game. She has reached double digits in three of her four starts while averaging 11.7 points and 4.5 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 has scored 12 points in each of her last two games against Maine and Georgia State.
 
YOUNG CLIMBING CAREER CHARTS
Redshirt-senior Clara Young has made the most of her opportunities during her three seasons as an Owl. She is currently fourth in Kennesaw State Division I history in assists (200), ninth in steals (81) and seventh in games started (59).
 
A WINNING FORMULA
In their two wins, The Owls are averaging 65.5 points a game, shooting 48.0 percent from the field, and out-rebounding their opponent by an average of 15 boards a game. Freshman Kamiyah Street has sparked KSU, averaging 22.5 points, 4.5 steals and 3.5 assists, while sophomore Carlotta Gianolla has contributed 15.5 points and 6.0 boards a contest.
 
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 Monday when they host East Carolina at the KSU Convocation Center beginning at 5 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# -

 

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