By: By Al Barba
Tip: 7 p.m. (ET)
Watch | Live Stats
BROADCASTERS:
P-By-P: David Moulton
Color: Pete Lonergan
Live Stats: KSUOwls.com
Stetson Series Info: Florida Gulf Coast leads, 21-2
Last Meeting: 2018, Florida Gulf Coast, 78-57
Kennesaw State Game Notes
GAMEDAY STORYLINES
• Kennesaw State (7-16, 3-9) concludes its Florida trip on Monday when it travels to Fort Myers to take on conference-leading Florida Gulf Coast (25-4, 11-1) beginning at 7 p.m. The game will be available on ESPN3.
• The Owls are looking to get back on the winning track after falling 96-53 at Stetson on Saturday.
• Florida Gulf Coast, which holds a one-game lead over second-place Jacksonville in the ASUN Conference standings, is coming off an 88-52 victor over Lipscomb on Saturday in Fort Myers.
• Guard Kamiyah Street has established herself as the premiere freshman in the ASUN Conference and one of the top rookies in the country. She has earned ASUN Freshman of the Year honors five times, and been named Player and Newcomer of the Week.
• Street ranks fourth in the country among freshmen in scoring average (16.6 ppg.), and sixth among freshmen and 49th overall in steals per game (2.6).
• Kennesaw State has three players scoring in double figures during ASUN play. Street tops the Owls with 17.4 points a game, while freshman Alexis Poole and sophomore Carlotta Gianolla are averaging 11.4 and 10.8 points per game, respectively.
• The 2017-18 season marks Kennesaw State's 13th at the NCAA Division I level and the Owls are 140-237 (.371) 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 461-449 (.506).
TOP FLIGHT OWLS
Eight players - Simina Avram, Caroline Dan, Carlotta Gianolla, Alexandra Landby, Alexis Poole, Kamiyah Street, Iceis Walker and Clara Young - were recently recognized as Top Flight Owls as 3.0 students in the classroom. Avram, Gianolla and Landby were honored as Presidential Scholars for posting 4.0 GPAs.
SCOUTING FLORIDA GULF COAST
The Eagles enter Monday's contest 25-4 overall and atop the ASUN Conference standings with an 11-1 record. FGCU is ranked No. 3 in the Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major poll. Florida Gulf Coast ranks first in the ASUN in scoring (77.8) and is second in scoring defense (59.6). The Eagles, who have won five in a row, are led by senior forward Rosemarie Julien, who is averaging 13.2 points a game.
SERIES VERSUS FLORIDA GULF COAST
The Eagles lead the all-time series, 21-2, and have won 15 in row. Kennesaw State's last win was a 63-52 victory in 2011.
STETSON RECAP
Freshman Kamiyah Street scored 16 points to lead Kennesaw State during a 96-53 loss to a hot-shooting Stetson team on Saturday. Freshman Alexis Poole added 13 points and nine rebounds, and junior Janae Omusi contributed a career-high 12 points for the Owls. Kennesaw State opened the game short-handed as senior guard Clara Young was unavailable resulting in a juggling of the lineup that included Street moving from the off-guard position to the point. With Young watching from the bench, Stetson opened the game with a 12-1 run and closed the first half with a 22-5 run over the final 6:47 to lead 53-21 at halftime. The Hatters made seven of their final eight field goal attempts and concluded the first half shooting 55 percent (17-for-31). Stetson finished the game shooting 60.4 percent from the field, including 47.6 percent (10-for-21) from behind the three-point arc.
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 five times (Dec. 5, Dec. 19, Jan. 9 and Jan. 16, Jan. 23), while also being selected Player of the Week (Dec. 19) and Newcomer of the Week (Jan.23).
STREET SOARING
Guard Kamiyah Street has been the ASUN Conference's top freshman this season, currently leading the Owls with 16.6 points a game. She has led KSU in scoring 14 times, reached double digits in 21 of 23 contests and scored 20 or more points eight times. The Owls' rookie is third in the ASUN and leads all freshmen in scoring, and tops the conference in steals (2.6). She is averaging 17.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.7 steals a contest during ASUN Conference play. Street is fourth in the conference in points, first in assists and second in steals.
GIANOLLA SHINES
Sophomore Carlotta Gianolla has returned to form following an injury. She has started 19 straight games and is second on the team with 10.0 points a game. She has reached double digits in 13 of her 19 starts while averaging 11.3 points and 5.2 rebounds a game. She tallied a season-high 19 points and nine rebounds in the Owls' win over Presbyterian on Nov. 21. The KSU sophomore has scored at least 10 points in 12 of her last 17 games.
YOUNG CLIMBING CAREER CHARTS
Clara Young has made the most of her opportunities during her three seasons as an Owl. She ranks second in Kennesaw State Division I history in assists (245), ninth in steals (102) and fifth in games started (73). She scored a career-high 18 points versus Georgia State earlier this season.
POOLE PROGRESSING
Freshman forward Alexis Poole is making an impact on the Owls this season. The first-year player is averaging 9.7 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. Poole is averaging 11.4 points and 8.1 rebounds in ASUN Conference play.
A WINNING FORMULA
In their seven wins, the Owls are averaging 68.4 points a game, shooting 42.6 percent from the field, and out-rebounding their opponent by an average of 9.3 boards a game. Freshman Kamiyah Street has sparked KSU, averaging 22.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 3.7 assists, while sophomore Carlotta Gianolla has contributed 12.6 points and 6.3 boards a contest.
PRESEASON HONORS
Sophomore Carlotta Gianolla was a unanimous selection to the 2017-18 ASUN Preseason All-Conference team. She is the reigning ASUN 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
The Owls wrap up their regular season on Saturday when they travel to Nashville to take on Lipscomb. Tip-off is 5 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.
To learn more about The Owls Fund visit www.ksuowls.com/theowlsfund.
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