By: Matteen Zibanejadrad
Saturday, Jan. 23
2:00 p.m. EST – Kennesaw State (4-4, 0-4) vs. North Florida (5-6, 3-1)
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Sunday, Jan. 24
2:00 p.m. EST – Kennesaw State (4-4, 0-4) vs. North Florida (5-6, 3-1)
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Location: Convocation Center | Kennesaw, Ga.
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3f3SLU1
Game Notes: KSU
TOP STORYLINES
» The Kennesaw State women's basketball team hosts North Florida in its return to ASUN-action. The Owls were originally slated to face off against the Ospreys two weeks ago, but COVID-19 issues within North Florida's program pushed the two-game series back to Jan. 23 and 24. Both games will tip off at 2 p.m. EST. Saturday's game will be a Tie-Dye Game for the Owls' fans, with free tie-dye shirts awarded to the first 50 students to show up to the Convocation Center.
» The Owls continue their conference campaign after a big 86-36 win against Division III's Berry College. Four different Owls had double-digit point tallies, but it was the defense that impressed in the lone game against KSU's fellow Georgia program. Kennesaw State allowed only a single basket in the second quarter, and a meager 11 points in the first half. The Owls will need to continue that form against what is the third-best offense in the ASUN in UNF.
» Gabi Legister had a quality showing against the Vikings last Saturday, capturing her third double-double of the season. The center also blocked four shots against Berry, a tally matched only by her fellow Pennsylvania native Gillian Piccolino. Legister currently boasts the second-best field goal percentage in the ASUN, making 31 of her 54 attempted field goals for 58.5%. The sophomore also finds herself in the top-10 for rebounds (6.5) and blocks (1.3) per game.
» Kennesaw State continues its reputation of one of the top offensive-rebounding teams in the nation, currently ranking sixth in offensive boards among Division I women's basketball teams. Offensive rebounds are an integral part of the Owls' offense, with many of the team's points coming from second-chance scoring opportunities.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Team co-captain Amani Johnson's resurgence in the last three games has not gone unnoticed, the junior is the Owls' highest scorer in that period of time. The KSU offense flows through Johnson, with the guard coordinating the team from the point.
The Pennsylvania native is the reigning queen of playmaking in the ASUN conference, with Johnson currently contributing 5.1 dimes a game. Johnson is four assists away from reaching the impressive benchmark of 300 assists in her KSU career.
Johnson's skills go beyond just offense, with the former ASUN Freshman of the Year currently placing fifth in steals among conference competitors. Her steal tally is just another one of Johnson's statistics that await a benchmark with the guard four steals away from 150.
FRESH PRINCESS
Last Saturday's game against Berry College was Stacie Jones' first as the ASUN Freshman of the Week and she continued the level of play that earned her the award against the Vikings.
The forward earned the second double-double of her budding career, scoring a new career-high 17 points. No. 20 for the Owls also grabbed ten boards, helping her move into sixth of the top rebounders of the ASUN; she is joined in the top 10 by teammates Legister and Jah'Che Whitfield.
WIth Jones' presence becoming more and more dominant, she has claimed the role of top rebounder and the third-highest scorer on the Owls. Her impressive feats become even more impressive when one realizes that the freshman has done it all from the bench this season.
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.
