Score: Kennesaw State 48, No. 22 FGCU 64
Records: Kennesaw State (9-15, 5-8), No. 22 FGCU (23-2, 12-1)
Key Players: Amani Johnson (16 pts, 3 rebs); Julia Rodriguez (9 pts, 2 rebs); Bre'Lyn Snipes (6 pts, 3 rebs, 2 stls)

THE STORYLINE
The Owls outscored No. 22 FGCU 15-12 in the third quarter, coming back to within five points with four minutes left to go in the game; however, the Eagles rode the momentum from an offensive foul call on Gabi Legister toward a 64-48 win on Thursday night in Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Fla.

COACH OCTAVIA BLUE QUOTES       
On the fourth-quarter foul call on Legister…
"It was a huge momentum play for them. Gabi Legister gets a bucket and what should be an and-one, but gets called for the charge. That was a huge momentum blow. We could have cut it to four points."

On Julia Rodriguez putting up a season-high point tally…
"Julia's always been a key substitution for us. I think with the play of Jah'Che Whitfield and the emergence of Bre'Lyn Snipes, she's probably not receiving the level of minutes she did last year. But she's a key part of what we're doing. Coming off the bench with Jah'Che coming out with an injury, she really stepped up, played well for us and came through in a big way."

On Amani Johnson being named CoSIDA Academic All-District…
"This is a kid that overachieves in every aspect. She's definitely getting the most out of her college experience. I think it's an amazing recognition of a special young lady who just does so much on and off the court."

HOW IT HAPPENED
The matchup began as a physical battle between the two teams, with 10 fouls called in the first 10 minutes alone.
Whitfield got the Owls going offensively with a drive to the net, getting fouled on a layup and converting the resulting free throw to take a 3-0 lead.

Alexis Poole was doing work on the glass, grabbing three rebounds in the first quarter before the whistle blew with FGCU leading 18-9.

Kennesaw State was able to match its ranked opposition's intensity in the second quarter, with Gillian Piccolino pulling up from the fast break for a trifecta to slice the Eagles' advantage to six.

After FGCU took a 16-point lead, the Owls ended the half with a 5-0 scoring spell and down 32-21.

The visitors' best run came in the third quarter however, riding an 8-0 streak to outscore the Eagles 15-12 over the 10 minutes.

Johnson was immense in the penultimate period, scoring eight of her 16 points in the third quarter.

The point guard was just as important in the fourth quarter, scoring six more points in the final 10 minutes.

Legister almost brought her team to within four points, as the center made a bucket and got her marker called for a foul; after the referees convened, the call was reversed and called a charge on the KSU no. 25.

After a Poole free throw, the Owls would be the victims of an 11-0 run and the final whistle blew with a 64-48 scoreline in favor of no. 22 FGCU.

UP NEXT
The Owls play their final road game of the season against Jacksonville, looking to even the season series on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 1 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.