Box Score (PDF)
 
FLORENCE, Ala. – The Kennesaw State women's basketball team fell behind in the third quarter Monday evening and never recovered, falling 71-54 at North Alabama inside Flowers Hall.
 
The Owls (12-14, 5-9) took an 8-7 lead with 5:06 remaining in the first quarter after junior Alexis Poole sank a pair of free throws. The Lions' Jaida Bond quickly answered with a three-pointer to recapture the lead for the home team at 10-8. North Alabama connected on two more shots from downtown in the frame to grab a 21-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
Sophomore guard Amani Johnson drained a three-pointer to cut the North Alabama lead to 21-17 at the 8:26 mark in the second quarter. The Lions quickly punched back with a made three-pointer and free throw to stretch their lead to eight at 29-21.
 
The Owls trimmed the North Alabama lead to two with an 8-2 run after Carlotta Gianolla made a layup with 1:40 remaining in the first half, but the Lions countered with a 6-0 run of their own to send themselves into the locker room ahead 37-29.  
 
North Alabama caught fire from the field in the third quarter, as Ivy Wallen scored six points in the first 2:44 of the frame to give the Lions their largest lead of the day to that point at 45-31. Poole connected on a three-point play to cut the home team's lead to 47-39 with 5:14 to go in the third quarter, but that is the closest the Owls got, as the Lions countered with a furious 16-0 run to close the third quarter and grab a commanding 63-39 lead.
 
North Alabama shot 65 percent from the field in the frame and received buckets from five different players, while Kennesaw State connected on just 24 percent of its shots in the same period and turned the ball over six times. 
 
Kennesaw State trimmed the lead to 18 on a made layup by Gianolla with 4:54 remaining, but North Alabama held on down the stretch for the 71-54 victory.
 
Poole continued her stellar play with a game-high 24 points and Gianolla added 12 points and five rebounds. Johnson ended the day with 11 points and five assists, while Gillian Piccolino's streak of double-figure scoring games came to an end at five.
 
Kennesaw State will look to get back on track at home against the Highlanders of NJIT at the Convocation Center on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 3:30 p.m.
 
Head Coach Agnus Berenato's Postgame Comments
"The game tonight against UNA was the tale of two halves. I felt we competed in the first half and stuck with our game plan.  UNA has a great transition game and terrific shooters so you need to pick your poison. We maintained our composure defensively however we missed several uncontested shots. In the second half our post carried us and UNA did a good job causing our guards to get out of their element. The exception was Amani Johnson, who was strong on both ends of the court. Alexis Poole was very good offensively, and she had help from Carlotta Gianolla. We will be happy to come home and get back to the Nest."