Box Score | Coach Head Interview w/ Highlights
Score: Kennesaw State 86, Martin Methodist, 60
Records: Kennesaw State (1-0, 0-0), Martin Methodist (1-4, 0-0)
Key Players: Gabi Legister (14 pts, 11 rebs), Jah'Che Whitfield (14 pts, 10 rebs), Stacie Jones (14 pts, 8 rebs), Amani Johnson (13 pts, 7 assts, 7 stls) and Breanna Hoover (6 pts, 5 assts, 4 rebs).
THE STORYLINE:
The Kennesaw State women's basketball team opened the 2020-21 season with a dominant 86-60 win over Martin Methodist Wednesday evening as four Owls finished the night in double-figures. Sophomore Gabi Legister had a career night recording a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds while Winthrop transfer Jah'Che Whitfiled made a splash in her Owl debut with a double-double of her own finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Interim Head Coach Khadija Head will look to build on what is her first win as a NCAA head coach.
QUOTES
On the team's play…
"Our kids have worked so hard throughout the summer on their own, and then, you know, once we came back to campus and we had to pause the program. We have a high level of accountability, and I think when you have a high level of accountability this is what results to it. Jah'che becoming eligible...huge, huge for our program and Gabi Legister is a kid who has put in a ton of work. And then, you know, you look at Stacie Jones and Amani Johnson; we've got a great, great line of numbers."
On the play of the freshmen…
"The one thing about all five of our freshmen: they committed to us during the early signing period when they were seniors in high school and they have been itching, clawing and scratching to get on campus...Normally, you know, we get our kids here in July so they had to delay until and then they had another delay. So I think it was them just finally getting a chance to open their Christmas presents."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The two teams battled early on in the game, with the Owls finding themselves down 11-6 with five minutes to go in the first quarter. Coach Head called a timeout, and regrouped her team which made all the difference. The Owls would go on a 15-2 run with big plays by Amani Johnson and Gabi Legister to end the first quarter up 21-13.
Stacie Jones was awarded for her aggressive play early on in the second quarter when she rebounded her own layup, to layup again for two points. Jones' composed play was eye-opening for a freshman making her first-ever NCAA start.
Another debutant, Jodi Mullins gave KSU its biggest lead of the first half when she sank a 3-pointer to put the Owls up 18. Mullins was impressive when coming in for Johnson, with her handling skills and trickery fully on display to close out the first half.
Team co-captain Breanna Hoover would set the tone in the second half shooting a successful trifecta 20 seconds in and the Owls would coast from there.
KSU would capture its biggest lead of the night with two free throws from freshman Julia Rodriguez, cementing a 34-point lead for the Owls a minute into the fourth quarter. Kennesaw State would focus on the defensive end of the ball for the remainder of the game, allowing only 14 points in the final quarter of the game.
NOTES
- Gabi Legister earned career-high for points (14), rebounds (11) and assists (3)
- Jah'Che Whitfield logged her fifth career double-double, first as an Owl
- Amani Johnson tied her career-high with seven steals
- The Owls 22 assists is tied for third in the KSU DI single-game record book while marking just the seventh time in DI history KSU has recorded 20+ assists
- KSU outscored Martin Methodist 58-20 in the paint
- The Owls out-rebounded MMC 50-29
- KSU forced 24 turnovers leading to 35 points off those turnovers
UP NEXT
The Owls continue their homestand Friday afternoon, hosting UNC Wilmington at 2 p.m. ET.
