By: By Al Barba
Tip: 2 p.m. (ET)
ESPN3 | Live Stats
BROADCASTERS:
P-By-P: Richard Miller
Color: Nancy Miller
North Florida Series Info: Kennesaw State leads, 26-16
Last Meeting: 2017, Kennesaw State, 52-48
Kennesaw State Game Notes
GAMEDAY STORYLINES
• Kennesaw State (4-8, 0-1) resumes ASUN Conference play this week when it travels to Jacksonville to visit North Florida (7-9, 0-1) on Saturday (Jan. 13). Tip-off is 2 p.m. and the game will be available on ESPN3.
• Following a 21-day break, the Owls returned to action last Saturday (Jan. 6) and fell 64-62 to Lipscomb at the KSU Convocation Center.
• The Ospreys are coming off a 66-48 home loss to Jacksonville on Saturday and have lost three in a row.
• The Owls enter Saturday's contest with a six-game winning streak against North Florida, with their last loss (50-46) to the Ospreys coming in the second meeting of the 2013-14 season in Jacksonville.
• Balanced scoring has highlighted the Owls' last five games as four players are averaging in double figures. Freshman Kamiyah Street (18.2) leads KSU, followed by Carlotta Gianolla (13.6), Alexis Poole (11.0) and Clara Young (10.8). Poole is averaging a double-double as she is also contributing 10.4 rebounds a game.
• Kamiyah Street became the first Owls' player to receive ASUN weekly honors this season when she was selected Freshman of the Week on Dec. 5. She followed that recognition by being named ASUN Player and Freshman of the Week on Dec. 19 and is the reigning conference Freshman of the Week after being honored for her performance versus Lipscomb.
• The 2017-18 season marks Kennesaw State's 13th at the NCAA Division I level and the Owls are 137-229 (.374) 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 458-441 (.509). Saturday's game at North Florida will mark her 900th as a Division I head coach.
SCOUTING NORTH FLORIDA
The Ospreys begin the week with a 7-9 overall record and an 0-1 mark in ASUN Conference play following a 66-48 home loss to Jacksonville on Saturday. North Florida, which has lost three in a row, is averaging 61.3 points a game while allowing 67.7 points a contest. UNF ranks second in the ASUN Conference in free throw percentage (70.0 percent) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (29.9). Redshirt senior forward Keonna Farmer tops the Ospreys in scoring (14.4 ppg.) and rebounding (8.1 rpg.) to rank fourth in the ASUN in both categories.
SERIES VERSUS NORTH FLORIDA
Saturday's contest marks the 43rd meeting between the two programs, with the Owls leading the all-time series, 26-16. Kennesaw State has won six in a row in the series dating back to 2014-15 season. North Florida's last win over KSU was a 50-46 victory in the second meeting of the 2013-14 season in Jacksonville.
LIPSCOMB RECAP
A valiant second-half comeback came up just short as Kennesaw State opened ASUN Conference play with a 64-62 setback to visiting Lipscomb Jan. 6 at the KSU Convocation Center. Trailing by 12 points at halftime, senior Clara Young sparked a second-half comeback, and the Owls had a chance to pull out the come-from-behind victory, but freshman Kamiyah Street's potential game-winning runner was off the mark, and KSU suffered its first loss in its last six meetings against the Lady Bisons. Sophomore Carlotta Gianolla scored 17 points and added six rebounds to lead a group a four Owls who scored in double figures. Street had another impressive game, scoring 16 points, collecting eight rebounds, career-high six steals, five assists and three blocked shots, while Young scored all of her 15 points in the second half, and freshman Alexis Poole contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds to record her fourth double-double of the season.
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) has the highest percentage of freshmen on its roster.
STREET HONORS
Freshman guard Kamiyah Street's impressive play this season has been rewarded as she has earned ASUN Conference Freshman of the Week honors three times (Dec. 5, Dec. 19 and Jan. 9), and was selected Player of the Week on Dec. 17.
STREET SOARING
Guard Kamiyah Street has adjusted well to the college level as she currently leads the Owls in scoring, averaging 15.7 points a game. She has led KSU in scoring six times and reached double digits in 10 of 12 contests. The Owls' rookie leads all ASUN freshmen in scoring, ranking third, and is first in steals (2.8 per game).
GIANOLLA SHINES
Sophomore Carlotta Gianolla has returned to form following an injury. She has started eight straight games and is second on the team with 9.9 points a game. She has reached double digits in seven of her eight starts while averaging 12.9 points and 5.6 rebounds a game. She tallied a season-high 19 points and nine rebounds in the Owls' win over Presbyterian. The KSU sophomore has scored at least 11 points in each of her last six games.
YOUNG CLIMBING CAREER CHARTS
Clara Young has made the most of her opportunities during her three seasons as an Owl. She is currently third in Kennesaw State Division I history in assists (214), ninth in steals (82) and seventh in games started (63). Earlier this season, she scored 18 points versus Georgia State to establish a single-game career high.
POOLE PROGRESSING
Freshman forward Alexis Poole is making an impact on the Owls this season. The first-year player is averaging 8.3 points and 8.3 rebounds a game. She is third in the conference in rebounding and her 18 boards against Middle Georgia State rank as the third-most in KSU Division I history.
A WINNING FORMULA
In their four wins, the Owls are averaging 68.0 points a game, shooting 41.7 percent from the field, and out-rebounding their opponent by an average of 10.5 boards a game. Freshman Kamiyah Street has sparked KSU, averaging 20.8 points, 3.0 steals and 2.5 assists, while sophomore Carlotta Gianolla has contributed 14.0 points and 6.5 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, which finished 10-20 and in fourth place in ASUN Conference 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 Saturday's game at North Florida, the Owls will conclude their Florida trip when they visit Jacksonville on Monday (Jan. 15) at 1 p.m.
WELCOME TO THE NEST
Agnus Berenato and her staff signed two highly talented recruits during the early signing period. Guards Amani Johnson (North Versailles, Pa. / East Allegheny HS) and Peyton Lewis (Hampton, Ga. / Locust Grove HS) will join the Owls' roster next fall.
Single-game tickets to all home games are priced at $5 and can be purchased online at www.ksuows.com/tickets or by calling the ticket office at (470) 578-4849.
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 -
