KENNESAW, Ga.- In a homecoming for four Kennesaw State student-athletes, the Owls showed grit and toughness, but came up just short against Duquesne 75-72 to drop to 5-5 on the season.
 
Amani Johnson led all scorers with 21 points, which tied her career-high, while Carlotta Gianolla poured in 17. Breanna Hoover netted 13 points, Gillian Piccolino scored 11, while Alexis Pooled ended with 10.
 
In addition to 11 points, Piccolino grabbed 10 rebounds to give her her first double-double in an Owl uniform.
 
Poole got the scoring going early for the Owls, as she kissed a shot off the backboard to give Kennesaw State a 2-0 lead after its first possession. Gianolla scored six-straight points for the Owls to follow and single-handedly kept on pace with the Dukes, as DU lead 9-8 at the first media timeout.
 
KSU retook the lead at the 2:21 mark in the opening quarter when Hoover completed the and-one to put the Owls on top, 11-9. After a Hoover 3-pointer, the Owls found themselves on top 15-13 at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Dukes took a 21-17 lead midway through the second quarter, but Gianolla completed the and-one to pull the Owls within one point at the 5:37 mark. KSU had an answer for every basket that the Dukes scored and kept the ballgame within three points with under three minutes to go. Two Johnson free throws put Kennesaw State on top 26-25 with two minutes to go in the first half.
 
Kennesaw State took hold of the quarter and extended the lead to 31-25 with 1:48 in the second quarter after 7-0 run, which was highlighted by two Johnson free throws and a Johnson 3-pointer. The Owls rode the momentum and held a 31-28 lead at the break.
 
KSU came out with fire in the second half and began on a 4-0 run, following baskets from Piccolino and Gianolla. The Owls pushed the lead to 11 points (48-37) at the 4:57 mark in the third quarter after a 3-pointer from Johnson and an old-fashioned 3-pointer from Piccolino. The Dukes shrank the lead to seven points, but a Hoover 3-pointer extended the lead back to 10 points with 3:26 remaining in the third quarter.
 
After Johnson's third 3-pointer of the game, the Owls pushed the lead to 14 points with under two minutes to play. It gave her 19 points on the night and a season-high.
 
The Dukes roared back in the fourth quarter and took a three-point lead at the four-minute mark in the fourth quarter. The Owls were able to tie up the game, but the Dukes responded.
 
Kennesaw State had a chance with three seconds to go, down by two, but an errant pass went out of bounds and DU took over.
 
The Owls will return to action Dec. 31 at the KSU Convocation Center against Middle Georgia State.
 

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