Score: Kennesaw State 86, Berry, 36
Records: Kennesaw State (4-4, 0-4), Berry (0-1, 0-0)
Key Players: Amani Johnson (17 pts, 4 assts), Stacie Jones (17 pts, 10 rebs), Gabi Legister (12 pts, 10 rebs, 4 blks), Yamani Paul (12 pts, 3 rebs) and Gillian Piccolino (7 rebs, 4 blks)
THE STORYLINE
The Owls welcomed fellow Georgia program Berry College into the Convocation Center on Sunday afternoon and KSU put on a scoring clinic in their 86-36 triumph. Stacie Jones set a new career-high 17 points as the reigning ASUN Freshman of the Week recorded her second double-double.
COACH KHADIJA HEAD QUOTES
On Owls' defensive display…
"In order for us to move the needle in the win-loss column, we're going to have to improve night in and night out defensively. We've had a trend of having more field-goal attempts than our opponent, but we're not doing a great job of really converting once we get defensive stops. So if we can steal some extra points that way while we continue to increase our field-goal percentage, it'll be great. We really need to improve that effort and I think today, we moved the needle in the right direction.
On Owls' standouts against Berry…
"Both Amani and Stacie had phenomenal performances and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Gabi Legister, she also rang in a double-double for us. Stacie Jones, very proud of her, she received our first ASUN Freshman of the Week this past week and I'm happy to see her come in today knowing that she had that accolade in her pocket and not to settle on her laurels. She understands that it's going to take more night in and night out. I think this is a great benchmark game for both Amani and Gabi. When they play well, it equates to success for the Owls and I'm so happy we were able to get them on the right side of the rebounds, the points and also the field-goal percentages."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Although the Vikings got the game going with a floating jumper, the story was all about the Owls from there. Gabi Legister capped off a 9-0 run to put KSU up 9-2 in the opening four minutes.
Stacie Jones would score five points in the last five minutes of the first quarter, with the ASUN Freshman of the Week winner would end the period with seven points and the Owls up 16-8.
The Owls would increase their level of dominance in the second quarter, going on a 10-0 run after the whistle blew. Six of those 10 points would be scored by freshman Yamani Paul, who is becoming more of a force for KSU every week.
Jones would earn the Owls their first 20-plus-point lead of the night with a turnaround jumper to make the score 30-9 Owls. The freshman would recapture that 21-point lead thirty seconds later to give her double-digits in the first half.
KSU didn't just impress offensively, with the Owls' defense holding Berry to a meager 1-of-15 from the field in the second quarter. The team would outscore the Vikings 21-3 in the second quarter and the halftime whistle would blow with the Owls leading 37-11.
The teams emerged from the locker room for the second half and Amani Johnson would shoot a quick couple of buckets to put the Owls up 43-11.
Berry would have their best quarter of the game in the third, scoring 15 points in those 10 minutes. The Vikings still faced an uphill battle, finding themselves down 58-26 with 10 minutes to go.
Berry would give themselves hope with a fast-break jumper to start the fourth quarter; however, the Owls subsequently went on a 13-0 run.
With 6:04 on the clock, Legister would convert a second-chance layup to complete her double-double.
KSU continued to pile on points against their Georgia-college counterparts, and the Owls would end the game with their biggest lead of the night. The final whistle blew and Kennesaw State was up 50 points against Berry, winning 86-36.
NOTES
- KSU caused 10 turnovers in the first period, recording 20 total turnovers.
- KSU scored 28 points off Berry College turnovers.
- KSU outrebounded Berry 52-26, a season-high mark for rebounds.
- Owls had double-digit steals (15) for the third time this year. Breanna Hoover had a career-high 4 steals.
- Johnson scored a season-high 17 points, her sixth game this year in double-figures.
- Jones recorded a career-high 17 points, earning her second double-double of the year pulling down 10 rebounds.
- Owls set their DI single-game record with 11 blocks. Pennsylvania duo Gillian Piccolino & Legister had 4 blocks each.
- Yamani Paul tied her career-high with 12 points.
- Legister grabbed her third double-double of the season, recording 12 points and 10 rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Owls are scheduled to take a trip to Louisville, Ky. to take on ASUN newcomers Bellarmine on Saturday, Jan. 30 and Sunday, Jan. 31 with times for the series yet to be announced. KSU has a bye week next weekend, with the ASUN schedule subject to change.
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State women's basketball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsWBB or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
