By: Matteen Zibanejadrad
PINK DAY DONATIONS
Saturday, Feb. 20
2:00 p.m. EST – Kennesaw State (6-9, 1-9) vs. Stetson (5-10, 3-7)
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Sunday, Feb. 21
2:00 p.m. EST – Kennesaw State (6-9, 1-9) vs. Stetson (5-10, 3-7)
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Location: Convocation Center | Kennesaw, Ga.
Game Notes: KSU
TOP STORYLINES
» The Kennesaw State women's basketball team returns to the Convocation Center for an important weekend against the Stetson Hatters. Saturday is the third annual Pink Day, an effort to increase the university's cancer awareness and fund initiatives like this year's Memorial Hope Garden. The weekend includes this year's Senior Day, with guard Breanna Hoover and student manager Nasya Chaney to be honored on Sunday afternoon. Hoover has made quite a career for herself as an Owl. The KSU co-captain's 103 career 3-pointers put her among the top 3-point shooters in the Owls' Division I history. In the 2019-20 season, the Pennsylvanian shot 40-for-98 for 40.8 percent from the three-point line, the best rate in Owls' DI History.
» This is the third Pink Day in Owls' history and no one symbolizes what Pink Day represents more than Head Coach Agnus Berenato. Berenato's long-term fight with cancer was the spark that started the yearly tradition and it means even more this year, as Berenato took a leave of absence this season to battle a recurrence of her disease. The acclaimed basketball coach will be in the building for this weekend's games, as the team celebrates her and everyone else affected by cancer.
» Freshman Julia Rodriguez returned home to Florida and had the biggest weekend of her career, scoring a career-high 18 points on the Saturday, Feb. 13 game against FGCU. The guard also tied her best rebounding return, grabbing four boards in the contest. The Bradenton, Fla. native will look to keep it rolling against Florida teams, with the Owls welcoming Stetson this weekend and visiting Jacksonville next weekend.
» It was all about the freshmen last Saturday, with Stacie Jones the only Owl to outscore Rodriguez. Jones went a spectacular eight-of-13 from the field to tie a career-high 19 points. The forward also grabbed nine boards, as Jones has been close to her third career double-double in the weeks since her last double-double performance at UNA. After the weekend at FGCU, Jones is rebounding at a rate of 7.1 boards per game. Jones is now the best rebounding Owl, and fourth among the best rebounders in the ASUN.
MEMORIAL HOPE GARDEN
Joining the Agnus Berenato Endowed Scholarship, the Department of Athletics and the KSU Foundation welcome a new Pink Day project: the Memorial Hope Garden.
The Memorial Hope Garden will be a place of reflection and remembrance for those we've lost to cancer. The garden will include a circular plot planted with pink flowers and trees next to KSU's Math and Statistics Building.
This year's goal for donation is $20,000 to fund the Memorial Hope Garden and donations can be made here.
NEVER BORED, ALWAYS BOARD
Kennesaw State remains a top offensive-rebounding team in the nation, placing 23rd with 15.3 offensive boards per game; much of this is due to the play of Jones and Gabi Legister, who share the lead for offensive rebounds in the ASUN with 3.3 per game.
Rebounding is a fundamental part of the Owls' offense, with a considerable amount of KSU's points coming through second-chance opportunities. KSU's rebounding prowess goes beyond their offensive play, with the team's rate of rebounds per game ranking 44th in the nation.
The matchup between Kennesaw State and Stetson pits the top-rebounding team in the conference against the bottom. While the Owls average 41.1 rebounds per game, Stetson averages only 34.4.
UP NEXT
The Pink Day games will take place against the Stetson Hatters on Feb. 20 and 21, with both contests tipping off at 2 p.m. EST
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.
