Score: Kennesaw State 100 , Thomas University 31
Records: Kennesaw State (1-0, 0-0), Thomas (0-4, 0-0)
Key Players: Alexis Poole (17 pts, 12 rebs, 4 assists); Bre'Lyn Snipes (14 pts, 6-8 FG); Jodi Mullins (13 pts, 5-9 FG); Stacie Jones (8 pts, 7 rebs)

THE STORYLINE
The 2021-22 Kennesaw State women's basketball season started in record-breaking fashion, thanks to a plethora of reasons: a returning Alexis Poole who looked as good as she ever has; career nights for sophomores Bre'Lyn Snipes and Jodi Mullins, and a Convocation Center that was red hot for head coach Octavia Blue's first game at the helm of the Owls.

COACH OCTAVIA BLUE QUOTES 
On the team's performance…
"I was really pleased with our defensive effort tonight. I thought our kids played with a lot of energy. They didn't give up, even if they did get beat. They filled in, and got steals and rebounds on the back end."

On Alexis Poole's return…
"I only knew of Alexis from film before I took the job, but I've noticed that she plays with a ton of energy. Ever since I've gotten here, she's been a Swiss Army Knife. She plays on both ends of the floor, she's high energy, she rebounds the ball, she rotates for her teammates and she doesn't mind getting on the floor and taking a charge."

On her post-match feelings…
"I feel blessed and I'm very grateful to be the head coach here at Kennesaw State. To see the support that I've gotten from the university, the athletic department and the community has just made my heart full. Coming in here tonight and seeing the support I have here makes me excited for what's to come with this program."

On breaking the single-game scoring record…
"It means a ton. A first-time head coach in their first game, but I have to credit my staff. Credit my team for coming out there. I didn't put the ball in the basket. They played with high energy and they got it done."

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Owls set the tempo of the matchup early on by pressing the Night Hawks all over the court, forcing turnovers and converting them into easy buckets. 

Gabi Legister returned to what she was most comfortable doing last season, posting up under the basket and making layups look simple. The Pennsylvanian tallied the first bucket of the Blue Era.

Looking like a transformed player to start off her sophomore season, Snipes sniped the first 3-point shot of her career to put the Owls up 12-0 with 7:41 left in the first quarter.

Heading into the second quarter with a 26-9 lead, Amani Johnson pulled up with a jumper to quickly answer an opening layup made by Thomas' Destiny Reed.

Mullins caught fire late in the first half, securing the last six points of the period with two splashes from beyond the arch; the two squads would return to the locker room with Kennesaw State up 50-15. 

The Owls showed no mercy to Thomas in the second half, as a Poole layup sparked a 12-0 run to put the team up 69-18 halfway through the third quarter. 

Poole was doing it all and could not be stopped. The senior from Ellenwood, Ga. was making moves in the paint, grabbing boards and taking charges. The forward's 17-point, 12-rebound game was her first double-double since Feb. 22, 2020 against Jacksonville. 

The Owls were up 95-28 with two minutes left in the game, and an excitement began to build in the 792 KSU fans packed into the Convocation Center as the team inched toward a century.

Gillian Piccolino came into the game, logging the first two minutes the junior has played since sustaining a leg injury during an impressive performance against North Florida in January. 

The Pittsburgh native looked like she hadn't lost a step, making a deep 2-pointer with her first touch on the ball. 

The ball once again came to a wide-open Piccolino with 30 seconds left on the clock, as the guard netted a trey to break a program record. 

The final whistle blew with the Owls winning their first game under Blue 100-31, the first time the Kennesaw State women's basketball team has ever scored 100 points in a game.

NOTES

- The Owls scored 100 points for the first time in program history.

- Bre'Lyn Snipes (14 pts) and Jodi Mullins (13 pts) secured new career highs in their first games as sophomores.

- Alexis Poole made her return to the Convocation Center court, securing her first double-double (17 pts, 12 rebs) in over a year.

- The team matched a 22-steal record set on Jan. 3, 2011 against USC Upstate.

- The Night Hawks logged 43 turnovers.

UP NEXT
The Owls soar down Interstate-75 on Thursday night, seeking to make history twice in one week as they take on Georgia Tech at 7 p.m.

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.