By: By Al Barba
Tip: 7 p.m. (ET)
Watch: NA
Live Stats
Savannah State Series Info: Kennesaw State leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: 2016, Kennesaw State, 72-60
Kennesaw State Game Notes
GAMEDAY STORYLINES
• After an 18-day break, Kennesaw State (4-7) will tip off the 2018 calendar year when it visits Savannah State (2-9) Wednesday (Jan. 3) at Tiger Arena in Savannah.
• The contest against the Tigers marks the Owls' final non-conference game before hosting Lipscomb Saturday, Jan. 6, at the KSU Convocation Center. Tip-off is 2 p.m. (ET).
• Finals, a power outage at Atlanta International Airport and the Christmas break provided KSU with an unusually long break in between games. The Owls were scheduled to compete in the Puerto Rico Classic in San Juan Puerto, Dec. 18-20, but their trip was cancelled due to an airport blackout on Dec. 17. Kennesaw State was scheduled to play Puerto Rico-Bayamon, Miami and Southern Illinois.
• The Owls are coming off a 60-58 victory at Georgia Southern on Dec. 15, and dating back to the 2016-17 season have posted a 12-11 record in their last 23 games.
• Balanced scoring has highlighted the Owls' last four games as four players are averaging at least 9.8 points a contest. Freshman Kamiyah Street (18.8) leads KSU, followed by Carlotta Gianolla (12.8), Alexis Poole (10.8) and Clara Young (9.8). Poole is averaging a double-double as she is also contributing 10.0 rebounds a game.
• Kamiyah Street became the first Owls' player to receive ASUN weekly honors when she was selected Freshman of the Week on Dec. 5.
• The 2017-18 season marks Kennesaw State's 13th at the NCAA Division I level and the Owls are 137-228 (.375) 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 458-440 (.510).
SCOUTING SAVANNAH STATE
The Tigers enter Wednesday's contest 2-9 and are currently in the midst of a five-game losing streak following a 74-46 loss at Jacksonville on Sunday. (Dec. 31). Savannah State has two players averaging in double figures and is led by junior guards Kaylee Allen and Donasja Scott. Allen is contributing 12.4 points a contest and also tops the team in assists and steals. Scott is averaging 11.3 points a contest and is second on the club 6.2 rebounds a game. The Tigers are averaging 50.0 points a game while allowing 82.0 points a contest.
SERIES VERSUS SAVANNAH STATE
Kennesaw State and Savannah State will meet for the third time with the Owls leading the all-time series, 2-0. The two teams met a year ago at the KSU Convocation Center and the Owls posted a 72-60 victory.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN RECAP
Freshman
Kamiyah Street scored on a layup with :12 remaining in overtime and sealed the game with a free throw in the closing seconds to lift Kennesaw State to a 60-58 victory at Georgia Southern on Friday. Street scored a game-high 21 points and totaled a career-best 11 rebounds, while freshman
Alexis Poole posted her third career double-double following a 13-point, 11-rebound performance to help the Owls erase an 11-point deficit and register their third win in the last four games. Sophomore
Carlotta Gianolla added 11 points and eight rebounds for Kennesaw State.
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 HONORS
Two weeks after earning ASUN Conference Freshman of the Week on Dec. 5,
Kamiyah Street doubled downed on conference weekly honors after earning ASUN Conference Player and Freshman of the Week recognition on Dec. 19. Street posted her first career double-double, scoring 21 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a 60-58 victory at Georgia Southern on Dec. 15.
STREET SOARING
Freshman guard
Kamiyah Street has adjusted well to the college level as she currently leads the Owls in scoring, averaging 15.6 points a game. She has led KSU in scoring six times and reached double digits in nine of 11 contests. The Owls' rookie leads all ASUN freshmen in scoring, ranking third, and is second in steals (2.5 per game).
GIANOLLA SHINES
Sophomore
Carlotta Gianolla has returned to form following an injury. She has started the last seven games and is second on the team with 9.3 points a game. She has reached double digits in six of her seven starts while averaging 12.3 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 five 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 (62). 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 7.9 points and 8.0 rebounds a game. She is fourth 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, 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
Following Wednesday's game at Savannah State, Kennesaw State returns home to host Lipscomb Saturday (Jan. 6) at the KSU Convocation Center. Tip-off is 2 p.m. (ET).
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.
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 -
