Score: Kennesaw State 63, FIU 72
Records: Kennesaw State (1-6), FIU (4-3)
Key Players: Jah'Che Whitfield (Career-high 22 pts, 9-for-13 FGs, 5 rebs, 1 ast); Carly Hooks (Season-best 15 pts, 5-for-9 3FGs, 5 rebs, 3 stls, 2 blks); Lyndsey Whilby (10 pts, 2 stls, 2 asts); Amani Johnson (7 pts, 7 asts)
THE STORYLINE
Kennesaw State women's basketball fell 72-63 at FIU Sunday afternoon at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. The Owls knocked down eight three-pointers, including five from Carly Hooks and limited FIU's leading scorer, Sophia Joyeuse to a season-low five points on 2-of-7 shooting. Hooks is the first KSU player to hit at least five threes in a game since Amani Johnson went 7-for-7 from beyond the arc against North Florida on Jan. 24, 2021.
KSU forced 21 turnovers and the Owls had three players in double-digits as Jah'Che Whitfield posted a career-high 22 points and Carly Hooks finished with a season-best 15. Lyndsey Whilby came off the bench and chipped in 10 to power the Kennesaw State offense.
COACH OCTAVIA BLUE QUOTES
On today's performance…
"We are a work in progress, and I am happy with the direction we are heading. We overcame adversity in the first half when we went down 12 points but battled back to cut the deficit to four heading into halftime and that's not easy to do. I thought we had opportunities in the second half to keep the lead once we took it but failed to get stops and make plays down the stretch. Credit FIU, every time we threw a punch, they countered by hitting big shots."
On the defense forcing 21 turnovers…
"Creating turnovers is crucial, it's who we are. When we turn teams over it ignites our offense and gives us opportunities to run and score in the open court."
On Carly Hooks…
"Carly shot the ball really well today and I think after she saw her first one go in, her confidence really grew. Having an additional playmaker on the floor allows Amani to play off the ball a bit and be the recipient of open looks that she does not have to create."
On what the team will look to improve on…
"We will for sure get back to work on improving our shooting, rebounding and eliminating defensive miscues when we are fatigued."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Florida International scored 10 of the first 14 points to build an early six-point lead. Hooks knocked down a corner three-pointer and Whitfield connected on a tough jumper in the paint to cut the FIU lead to 12-9 with 4:29 left in the first.
The Panthers responded with an 11-3 run and hit 5-of-6 shots from the floor to end the quarter with a 21-12 lead.
KSU held FIU scoreless over the first 2:30 of the second quarter, going on a quick 4-0 run to cut the deficit back to five, 21-16. Florida International answered the Kennesaw State run and extended its lead back to double-figures, 32-18, with just over three minutes remaining.
Whitfield converted a three-point play, hit a corner trey and knocked down a pair of free throws over the final three minutes as the Owls closed out the half on a 13-3 run to go into the break down 35-31.
Whilby's driving layup with 6:31 left in the third gave the Owls their first lead of the afternoon, 42-41.
Both teams traded a pair of three-pointers as KSU and FIU were tied, 46-46, with less than five minutes to go in the quarter. The Panthers outscored KSU 8-3 over the final three minutes to grab a 54-49 lead into the fourth.
Hooks connected on her fifth three-pointer of the game and Whilby followed suit on the next possession to pull within one, 58-57, with 6:30 left in regulation. FIU responded with two straight triples and a layup to push its lead back to nine, 66-57, with four minutes to go. Stacie Jones' layup with 57 seconds left brought KSU within five, 68-63, but the Owls were unable to complete the comeback.
UP NEXT
The Owls return home for an in-state matchup against Georgia State Saturday 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.
