Box Score

Score: Kennesaw State 32, Stetson 49
Records: Kennesaw State (6-10, 1-10), Stetson (6-10, 4-7)
Key Players: Jah'Che Whitfield (10 pts, 12 rebs, 2 assts, 2 stls), Gabi Legister (10 pts, 7 rebs), Julia Rodriguez (7 pts)

THE STORYLINE
There were smiles all around the Convocation Center with KSU's annual Pink Day celebration finally here, but Jah'Che Whitfield's double-double performance wasn't enough to avoid a 49-32 loss for the Owls.

COACH KHADIJA HEAD QUOTES
On Amani Johnson…
"It was an honor to celebrate Amani Johnson as our all-time assist leader pre-game. What an amazing accomplishment. That's why you come to Kennesaw State, to leave your legacy in the record books.  

On team's standout performers…
"Jah'Che Whitfield was invaluable today. She emptied her tank, giving us 10 points and 12 rebounds. I'm proud of how she performed and this was a good bounce back game for Gabi with her 10 points"

On Sunday's game…
"We are short-handed but this is why you lace up and compete for the opportunity to make a difference. We have a team full of competitors that are eager for the opportunity to compete again in front of our home fans tomorrow. Our mission and focus lies solely on honoring our lone senior, Breanna Hoover, someone who has dedicated four years of hard work both on and off the court."

HOW IT HAPPENED 
The afternoon began with a commemoration for Owl phenom Amani Johnson and her record-breaking 330th assist on Feb. 4. The junior looks to expand her tally with the remainder of her junior and senior years. 

After the Hatters jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, Gabi Legister scored two layups in an 11-0 streak for the Owls to gain the advantage; however, Stetson ended the first quarter with an 8-1 run of their own and started the second quarter with a 13-12 lead. 

Julia Rodriguez put an end to a 9-0 Stetson stretch with a jumper in the paint to cut the Hatter lead to 21-14 with 5:20 remaining in the half. 

With a little over a minute remaining in the half, Jah'Che Whitfield latched on to a loose Stetson pass and raced to the bucket to convert a driving layup. The heads-up play ended the first half's scoring and KSU remained competitive with a 23-19 scoreline. 

The third half began and Whitfield got right back to work, laying up her own offensive rebound for her 10th point of the game. The home team was held scoreless for large portions of the third quarter, but Stacie Jones made a jumper in the paint to pull the Owls within 12. Stetson held a 36-24 lead heading into the fourth and final quarter. 

Whitfield pounced on a missed Hatter jumper 3:17 into the fourth quarter for her 10th rebound of the afternoon, clinching her third double-double of the season and her first since Dec. 18, 2020 against UNCW. 

Legister scored six points in the fourth quarter alone, but the Owls continued to struggle in finding their rhythm. KSU will look to return to the Convocation Center tomorrow with a bounce-back performance.  

UP NEXT
The Kennesaw State faithful will look to celebrate some more, as attention turns to tomorrow's Senior Day. Seniors Breanna Hoover and student manager Nasya Chaney will be honored in a pre-game ceremony before tipoff at 2 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.