Box Score | Game Highlights and Post-Game Interview with Khadija Head

Score: Kennesaw State 81, North Florida 73
Records: Kennesaw State (5-5, 1-5), North Florida (6-7, 4-2)
Key Players: Amani Johnson (22 pts, 11 assts, 7-7 3-FG), Gillian Piccolino (20 pts., 6-9 3-FG), Stacie Jones (16 pts, 9 rebs, 2 stls, 2 blks), Gabi Legister (8 pts, 8 rebs), Jah'Che Whitfield (8 pts, 8 rebs)

THE STORYLINE
A rousing performance from Gillian Piccolino and a surprise visit from Coach Agnus Berenato motivates the Owls toward its first conference win of the season. The Owls broke their record of most 3-pointers in a Division-I game, shooting 14-of-21 from beyond the arc to beat the Ospreys 81-73.

COACH KHADIJA HEAD QUOTES:
On how the Owls won…
"Today the thing was heart and hustle. We have 11 strong, confident women. When we are together as a unit and play with heart and hustle, this is the outcome."

On her advice after yesterday's game…
"We just said to 'perservere and pivot.' That was the goal for today. I am proud of the way we played yesterday. Our women competed. I mean it was a tie game with two minutes left and for them to come back out today and pivot, make some slight adjustments. The adjustments we needed were to box out on the defensive glass, dominate the offensive glass and then knock down shots. I mean, you look at our 3-point percentage and we shot 66% from the game. That is absolute focus. Then we had some kids step up: Amani Johnson set some new benchmarks in her career with assists and steals yesterday and tonight she came out, and led us with a double-double. 

On having Coach Berenato at the game…
"Coach B's presence is always with us. Everyday on game day, she wears the same outfits that we do. We give her a scouting report, she gets the game notes. It just so happens that she was here today in our presence physically, but Coach B is always here with us. We Facetime her after the game, and it was just like an extra treat. She knew today was going to be special. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
KSU began the game more competitively than the team did in yesterday's showing. While UNF went on a 5-0 run off the jump, the Owls immediately followed a suit with their own 5-0 run capped off by a Yamani Paul 3-pointer. 

The teams continued to trade jabs until they went into the first media timeout with the Ospreys leading 11-7 with 4:23 left in the first quarter. 

When play continued, UNF would hit their next four shots, and the Owls would make only two of their last ten. 

The home team managed to keep the scoreline close throughout the first quarter, and Gillian Piccolino would end the quarter with her first trifecta of the night. The horn would blow to end the quarter and the Owls found themselves down 16-12 going into the second. 

The beginning of the second quarter was an unbelievable affair with both teams trading 3-pointers for the first four minutes. Amani Johnson began to catch fire, following suit with her fellow Pennsylvania native Gillian Piccolino; the pair would hit five straight 3-pointers. 

UNF constantly fought back and went on an 8-0 run to give the Jacksonville, Fla. team a 34-27 lead with 6:05 remaining in the half. 

Interim Head Coach Khadija Head lit a fire under her Owls, as the team went on a 7-0 run highlighted by a layup by Gabi Legister. The six-foot-three center was fouled on the play and successfully shot her and-one free throw. 

While KSU was down 35-34 with 2:47 left in the quarter, Johnson forced a North Florida turnover and shot a trey ball to give her team the lead. The Owls made their last three field goals to take a 42-38 lead into halftime. The 30 points KSU scored in the second quarter tied the team's season-high for points in a quarter. The nine 3-pointers the Owls scored in the first half was already more than they shot in a game all season. 

During halftime, the PA announcer signified the presence of Head Coach Agnus Berenato. All of the Kennesaw State fans looked up to the balcony of the Convocation Center's Legacy Suite to welcome the on-leave coach. 

Both teams would come out of the locker room and UNF had a point to prove. They started the half with a 14-2 to give the Ospreys a 52-44 lead. 

The Owls would hit their next three field goals, including Amani Johnson's fifth 3-pointer from as many shots. With 2:26 left to go in the third quarter, KSU was within three points and down 56-53. 

KSU closed out the quarter with a 7-0 run finished off by another Piccolino three to give the hosts a 60-58 lead, but Piccolino's contributions would become even more awe-inspiring. 

Stacie Jones also had a tremendous third period, scoring 10 points and going 4-4 from the field. 

Continuing the trend of the rest of the game, the fourth quarter showed just how back and forth the matchup was. The Ospreys and Owls traded the lead for the first 3:35 of the final quarter, then Johnson made another three to tie the game at 66-66. 

Johnson went seven-for-seven from beyond the arc on Sunday afternoon, shattering her previous best of four trifectas.

UNF would storm down the court and make an easy layup. This would galvanize the Owls and Gillian Piccolino. 

Piccolino marched back up the court and swished a three from Johnson's tenth assist of the day, earning the KSU offensive general a double-double. Johnson also had eleven assists in the contest, tying her career-high. 

The KSU squad was really starting to feel themselves when Piccolino made a huge halfcourt steal, and sprinted down the court to make an easy layup. Unfortunately, when the sophomore came down from the shot, she came back down with an injury. Gillian Piccolino put her body on the line in the biggest play of the game to give the Owls a 71-68 lead with 4:58 to go in the final period. 

The KSU crew was even more motivated to close out the game for their fallen comrade, and finished off a 13-2 run with Johnson's seventh and final 3-pointer to give themselves a 76-68 lead with 3:31 to go in the match. 

While the Owls were on fire, the Ospreys went cold; the North Florida team shot just 29% from the floor in the quarter.  

With many nerves in the Convocation Center, the KSU fans exploded when the final whistle finally blew. The Owls beat the North Florida Ospreys 81-73 to capture the team's first ASUN win of the season. 

 NOTES:
- KSU shoots 14 3-FG (14-for-21, 66.6%), the most in its Division I history.
- Johnson (22) and Piccolino (20) both score season highs in points.
- Johnson ties career high in assists (11), earning a double-double.
- KSU outrebounded UNF 47-32.
- Stacie Jones was a rebound away from her third double-double of the season.
- The lead changed between teams seven times, with the score being tied up nine times.
- KSU scored 38 points from its bench, compared to UNF's 13.
- The Owls' 30 points in the second quarter, ties its season high for points in a quarter. 

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. 

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.