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KENNESAW, Ga. – Junior Carlotta Gianolla scored a game-high 24 points and sophomore Alexis Poole produced a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Kennesaw State women's basketball team to an 80-70 season-opening victory over Middle Georgia State Wednesday at the KSU Convocation Center.
 
Sophomore Kamiyah Street added 15 points, six rebounds and five assists, while freshman guard Amani Johnson contributed 10 points, six rebounds, seven assists and five steals in her collegiate debut. Sophomore Lexi Mann came off the bench to equal a career high with 12 points while collecting five rebounds and an assist.
 
Kennesaw State (1-0) used a 13-1 run late in the third quarter to build a 65-52 lead heading into the fourth quarter to seize control. The Owls' lead never dipped below eight points in the final period.
 
Gianolla and Poole led the Owls with 14 points apiece, and Street chipped in 10 to pace KSU in the first half. Kennesaw State got off to a quick start and led 32-21 at the end of the first quarter after shooting 61.1 percent (11-for-18) from the field and forced six turnovers.
 
The victory marked Kennesaw State's first win to open season the Owls defeated College of Charleston, 68-61, to begin the 2014-15 season.

NOTEWORTHY

• The Owls' starting lineup consisted of two freshmen (Amani Johnson, Peyton Lewis), two sophomores (Alexis Poole, Kamiyah Street) and junior Carlotta Gianolla.
• Four Owls made their official Kennesaw State debut as freshmen Kate Head, Amani Johnson and Peyton Lewis saw their first action, while redshirt senior Simina Avram played four minutes for the first time in a KSU uniform.  
• Johnson played all 40 minutes, while Lewis had three points, two rebounds, a block and assist in 26 minutes. Head played 15 minutes, collected four rebounds and had an assist.
• Lewis scored her first career points on a 3-pointer to open the second half.
• The Owls dominated inside, outscoring Middle Georgia State, 42-14, in the paint. Kennesaw State also forced 29 turnovers that led to 35 points.

QUOTING BERENATO
"Having a young team, I am really happy we got this win because with four minutes to go it was a 10-point game and I was afraid they were going to play not to lose rather than play to win," head coach Agnus Berenato said. "That is what has happened to Kennesaw State before. I knew we had to get a score and have Kamiyah (Street) and Amani (Johnson) get tough on defense, and I thought they did a pretty good job."
 
ON THE PLAY OF GIANOLLA AND MANN
"I thought Carlotta played great in the first half and Lexi (Mann) did a terrific job at the end of the game going in and really picking up and giving us some good things," Berenato said.
 
BERENATO ON CONTRIBUTION FROM FRESHMEN
"I think the freshmen earned their playing time," Berenato said. "We're trying to build a program, and I think if you are going to do that, you build it with youth."    
 
2018-19 HOME PROMOTIONS

Jan. 29	Education Day vs. North Florida; 11 a.m.
Feb. 9	Pink Day vs. NJIT; 2 p.m.
Feb. 16	Crowd the Convo vs. Lipscomb; 2 p.m.
Mar. 2	Senior Day vs. Stetson; 2 p.m.

NEXT UP
Kennesaw State makes its first road trip of the season when it travels to South Orange, N.J. to compete in the Seton Hall Tip-Off. The Owls play Saturday versus Seton Hall beginning at 12 p.m. KSU concludes tournament play Sunday against UMBC beginning at 11 a.m.
 
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.