Box Score (PDF)

KENNESAW, Ga.- Behind a career-nights from Simina Avram and Amani Johnson, the Owls (3-5) pummeled Georgia Southern (2-6), 78-59 inside KSU Convocation Center. Avram netted a career-high 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while Johnson poured in 17 points and dished out a career-high 11 assists.

Simina Avram scored the first two baskets for the Owls, but Georgia Southern went on a 7-0 run to take a 10-4 lead to begin the game. Breanna Hoover ended the Georgia Southern run with a corner 3-pointer to pull the Owls within three at the 5:43 mark to go in the first. KSU's offense flipped a switch in between the quarters and exploded for 24 second quarter points.

At the 8:27 mark in the second quarter, Hoover and Amani Johnson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to pull Kennesaw State within four points. The Owls took their first lead of the game after Johnson knocked down her second 3-pointer of the game following the Hoover trifecta. The 3-pointers began a 17-0 run that included points from Jonson, Avram, Hoover and Carlotta Gianolla. Kennesaw State held Georgia Southern to just four second quarter points and held a 34-22 lead at the break.

The teams traded buckets in the third quarter until the Owls went on a 6-0 run to expand the lead to 16 to make it 43-27 with 4:23 to play in the third frame. Hoover answered a pair of Georgia Southern free throws with a corner 3-pointer to give the Owls a 46-33 lead. The quarter was capped off by a Johnson 3-pointer that beat the buzzer to push the Kennesaw advantage to 55-43.

With 7:37 to go in the contest, Kennesaw State went on a 6-0 run to force a Georgia Southern timeout. After the media timeout, Kamiyah Street made a shifty move in the lane that resulted in an easy layup that was followed by back-to-back Alexis Poole buckets to make it 64-49, KSU. The Owls cruised the rest of the way to pick up their third home victory of the season.
 
NOTEWORTHY

• Amani Johnson netted 17 points (ties career-high)
• Simina Avram recorded career-highs in points (20) and rebounds (13)
• Five Owls finished in double-digits (Avram-20, Johnson- 17, Hoover -12, Poole- 12, Street- 11)
• The Owls defense held Georgia Southern to four second quarter points
• Avram, Poole and Johnson ended with double-doubles
• As a team, the Owls shot 53.8 percent from deep and 54.2 percent from the field
• Hoover and Johnson each knocked down a trio of 3-pointers
• In the second quarter, Kennesaw State went on a 17-0 run
• Biggest margin of victory over Georgia Southern since Dec. 15, 2008 (82-61)
• The Owls are now 3-0 at home this season

QUOTABLE
"I thought we hustled a lot more from the second quarter and beyond and our starters really picked it up. I thought that Kamiyah (Street) turned it up in the second half as well. Amani (Johnson) did a great job tonight and Simina (Avram) was just amazing," said head coach Agnus Berenato.

NEXT UP
The Owls begin a six-game road trip at Mercer on Saturday (Dec. 1). Kennesaw State follows with trips to Georgia State (Dec. 13), Georgia Tech (Dec. 16) and Atlanta for the Georgia State Classic against Bethune-Cookman (Dec. 20) and North Carolina Central (Dec. 21).