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KENNESAW, Ga. –  Sophomore Carlotta Gianolla scored a team-high 18 points and collected eight rebounds, and freshman Alexis Poole recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Kennesaw State women's basketball team during a 70-64 setback to USC Upstate Saturday at the KSU Convocation Center.
 
Freshman Kamiyah Street added 11 points and six assists, and senior Clara Young contributed 10 points and five assists for the Owls (6-13, 2-6). The Spartans (8-15, 3-5) were led by Brittney Delva and Tamera Thorpe, who scored 22 and 20 points, respectively.
 
STORYLINE
Kennesaw State held the lead for most of the game, leading by as many as 11 points with 6:45 remaining in the second quarter, and took a 58-49 advantage into the fourth quarter. However, USC Upstate rallied in the final 10 minutes, outscoring the Owls 21-6 in the period, including a 16-2 run over the final 6:59 of the game.
 
KSU was able to build its lead on the strength of a strong inside game from Gianolla and Poole as the two combined for 34 points through three quarters, but were held scoreless in the fourth quarter. The play of the Owls' frontline gave them a 30-22 edge in points in the paint through three quarters, but they were outscored 12-2 inside in the final period. The Spartans finished the game with a 34-32 edge inside.
 
USC Upstate, which shot 43 percent (24-for-55) from the field, connected on 9-of-14 field goal attempts in the fourth quarter, while Kennesaw State was held to 25 percent (3-for-12) shooting over the final 10 minutes and finished the game with a 41.8 field goal percentage mark.
 
QUOTING THE COACH
"We didn't play to win. We were playing not to lose," head coach Agnus Berenato said. "We won three quarters and lost the fourth quarter. Carlotta and Alexis had great games, but our guards didn't get them the ball in the fourth quarter. I am really disappointed because we went away from what was working the entire game."
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Poole recorded her fifth double-double of the season, while Street extended her streak of consecutive games scoring in double figures to 13. With five assists on the afternoon, Young moved into sole possession of second place on the Kennesaw State Division I assist list with 239. She trails Kristina Wells (2011-15), who totaled 329 during her career.
 
UP NEXT
The Owls return to action on Wednesday (Feb. 7) when they travel to New Jersey to take on NJIT beginning at 7 p.m. The game will be available on ESPN3.

Single-game tickets to all home games are priced at $5 and can be purchased online at www.ksuowls.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.