Score: Kennesaw State 58, Liberty 68
Records: Kennesaw State (4-8, 0-1), Liberty (14-1, 2-0)
Key Players: Amani Johnson (20 pts, 8-14 FG, 6 rebs); Bre'Lyn Snipes (11 pts, 5 rebs, 2 assts); Alexis Poole (8 pts, 6 rebs)

THE STORYLINE
Amani Johnson led all scorers in the Liberty Stadium with a 20-point performance, her fifth-straight game with 10-plus points. The Owls scored more than the hosting Flames over the second half, but Liberty leaned on its first-half advantage to clinch the conference victory.

COACH OCTAVIA BLUE QUOTES
On what was different in the second half…
"It was our defensive effort. At halftime, Liberty is shooting 63 percent from the field and 54 from 3. We just weren't doing a good enough job of staying between Liberty and the basket. My biggest message was to increase our effort on the defensive end and to execute better on layups and easy points."

On another impressive performance from Amani Johnson…
"Her performance has just become customary for me at this point. She shows up every night to play on both ends of the floor. More than anything, she's just accountable. I talked to her in the huddle once after she missed a block-out and she raised her hand and said, 'That's on me.' That's what you want to see: accountability and someone who shows up every night."

On the play of Bre'Lyn Snipes…
"Looking at Bre'Lyn Snipes, her stature within itself, she's so long and athletic. The way she runs the floor, I think my style of play fits her. It appeals to her game. She has so many weapons: the ability to shoot the 3, she runs the floor and stretches the defense out with her ability to get up and down and make transition plays for us. Really happy to see how she performed today, and it's all due to how she's performed in practice the last couple of weeks."

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Flames started out the matchup by taking a 4-0 lead, but it was Jah'Che Whitfield who got the Owls going with a triple to cut the deficit.

KSU's next basket would also come from beyond the arc, as Gillian Piccolino lessened Liberty's lead with a shot off of the bench.

Finding open shots with proficient passing, the Flames were able to execute in the paint and at the 3-point line.

The Lynchburg, Va. team led 19-11 going into the second quarter, which proceeded a lot like the first quarter did.

Johnson was able to show her versatility in this period, grabbing four boards in the quarter.

The two teams started the second quarter by exchanging two buckets each before the Owl defense was able to inflict a 3:39 scoring drought on their adversaries.

When the Flames did hit their shots, they hit them from the perimeter; the two teams would head into their respective tunnels with Liberty leading 37-22.

Becoming routine, Kennesaw State came out of the visiting locker room with energy after halftime.

Stacie Jones followed up an Alexis Poole jumper with an and-one layup, making it a 40-27 scoreline. This was part of a 7-0 run that was polished off by two Johnson free throws.

Johnson flexed her muscle throughout the third quarter, going three-for-three from the field for eight points.

Piccolino came off the bench again to end the third quarter with a three, bringing her team within 17 points.

It was Bre'Lyn Snipes time to shine in the fourth quarter, as she scored six points to finish the night with her third game in double digits in the last four games.

Coach Blue's squad was defending all areas of the court more efficiently, as they held Liberty to nine points in the final period; however, the Flames' first-half edge appeared more insurmountable as the final whistle drew nearer.

The Owls would end the afternoon within 10 points, dropping their conference opener 68-58 in the Liberty Stadium.

UP NEXT
The Owls return to the Convocation Center on Wednesday, Jan. 12 to take on ASUN powerhouses FGCU, with tipoff taking place 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.