Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML) | Highlights

KENNESAW, Ga. – Sparked by a big first half from senior Clara Young and a double-double by freshman Alexis Poole, the Kennesaw State women's basketball team posted an 81-65 victory over visiting Middle Georgia State Saturday afternoon at the KSU Convocation Center.
 
Young scored a career-high 18 points, knocking down five 3-pointers, and added eight assists, while Poole posted career-highs with 14 points and 18 rebounds for the Owls (3-6). Freshman Kamiyah Street (17) and sophomore Carlotta Gianolla (14) also reached double digits in points.
 
The win marked Kennesaw State's fourth straight at home dating back to last season and was KSU's seventh victory in its last eight games at the KSU Convocation Center. The 16-point victory was the Owls' largest since defeating Lipscomb, 96-69, in the 2016-17 regular-season finale at the KSU Convocation Center on Feb. 25, 2017.

STORYLINE
Young led the charge in the first half, scoring 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including five 3-pointers, that helped the Owls build a 45-38 halftime lead. After a slow start that included eight turnovers in the opening quarter, KSU found its rhythm, committing just four second-quarter turnovers and outscoring Middle Georgia State, 27-17 over the final 10 minutes of the first half.
 
Kennesaw State put the game away in the third quarter, outscoring the Knights, 21-9, behind the play of Street, who scored 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and 3-for-3 from the charity stripe.
 
QUOTING THE COACH
"I was really happy with the adjustments the ladies made at halftime. I thought my staff stepped up and I think the team really listened in the third quarter and that was the quarter we needed," head coach Agnus Berenato said. "Today was Clara Young's day. She started out hitting the 3's, she's our only senior and you can tell she took this game serious, putting the team on her back and carrying us to victory.
 
"Alexis Poole is just going to get better and better. We just have to keep her out of foul trouble," Berenato added. "Today we had a lot of foul trouble, but Alexis, I am very, very proud of her."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
The Owls used their size and quickness to out-rebound the Knights, 50-40, recording a season-high rebounding total, and outscored Middle Georgia State, 42-14, in the paint. After committing eight turnovers in the first quarter and totaling 12 at halftime, Kennesaw State committed just four in the second half to finish the game with 16.
 
NEXT UP
The Owls conclude their three-game homestand on Monday when they host East Carolina at the KSU Convocation Center. Tip-off is 5 p.m. (ET). Tickets are currently on sale at www.ksuowls.com/tickets. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.

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.