Box Score | Interim Coach Khadija Head Postgame Interview w/ Highlights

Score: Kennesaw State 69, UNC Wilmington, 59
Records: Kennesaw State (2-0, 0-0), UNC Wilmington (3-2, 0-0)
Key Players: Jah'Che Whitfield (20 pts, 13 rebs), Julia Rodriguez (13 pts, 2 assts), Amani Johnson (10 pts, 8 assts, 6 rebs, 3 stls), Stacie Jones (9 pts, 3 rebs) and Gabi Legister (6 pts, 7 rebs, 6 blks) 

THE STORYLINE
Friday afternoon's Kennesaw State women's basketball game came down to the wire as the Owls and UNC Wilmington saw seven lead changes in the fourth quarter before a big 12-0 run in the final minutes sealed a 69-59 victory for KSU. Jah'Che Whitfield led the way with her second straight double-double (20 points, 13 rebounds) while Amani Johnson, recording six points and four assists in the fourth quarter alone, finished with a big all-around game recording 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

COACH KHADIJA HEAD QUOTES
On the team's mentality…
"It's just growth, you know? They're a well-seasoned team that have a great jolt of freshman mentality. Everyone on this team is a winner coming into this program and we see it in practice every single day. It is a joy to just display their talent in front of our fans."

On the play of the freshmen…
"I tell you, our freshmen, they just continue to surprise me. Julia Rodriguez had a great night tonight with 13, and then also with Stacie Jones and Yamani Paul, I mean, they need this game experience. Last game, Amani got into foul trouble; this game, Stacie got into foul trouble and them playing with care as far as having fouls and understanding the importance and the value they bring on the court...I can't bottle [their] energy. One thing about freshmen, they have no ceiling. They just continue to rise and rise and rise."

HOW IT HAPPENED 
The Owls held UNCW to 13.3 percent shooting in the quarter, including a four-minute scoring drought in which KSU took a 7-4 lead thanks to three straight points from Julia Rodriguez. Kennesaw State closed out the quarter on a 5-0 run to lead 12-6. Whitfield's stellar night started with eight rebounds in the first quarter alone.

A three-pointer by freshman Yamani Paul early in the second quarter set the tone for the rest of the half; the Owls held the Seahawks for the first five minutes of the second quarter.

UNCW began to change the narrative of the game in the second half, with the Seahawks making a 12-0 run to take their first lead since the first quarter. The Wilmington, N.C., team outscored the home team 28-14 to take a 46-43 lead into the fourth quarter. 

Whitfield began a thrilling fourth quarter with back-to-back buckets to put KSU back in front 47-46. From there, it was a back-and-forth affair as the two teams changed the lead seven times in the fourth quarter. 

Johnson finally put the game to bed with a three-pointer to spark a 12-0 run for the Owls over the final two and a half minutes of play. KSU finished 4-for-4 from the floor over the final minutes adding five free throws to record the 69-59 victory.

NOTES
- Jah'Che Whitfield earned her second straight double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds.
- Julia Rodriguez hit double-figures for the first time in her NCAA career with 13 points.
- Gabi Legister had a career-high six blocks and she continues to improve her already impressive season.
- Amani Johnson had her second straight game with seven or more assists.

UP NEXT
The Owls close out non-conference play Monday (Dec. 21) hosting Life University at 12 p.m.