Score: Kennesaw State 72, Eastern Kentucky 87
Records: Kennesaw State (4-8, 0-1), Eastern Kentucky (8-6, 1-0)
Key Players: Jah'Che Whitfield (23 pts, 9-of-17 FGs, 10 rebs, 5 asts, 2 stls, 1 blk); Lyndsey Whilby (17 points, 5 rebs, 1 ast); Carly Hooks (11 pts, 4 rebs, 1 ast, 1 stl)
THE STORYLINE
Jah'Che Whitfield finished with a career-high 23 points and 10 rebounds, posting her first double-double and ninth of her career as Kennesaw State fell 87-72 at EKU Monday night. After a slow first quarter, the Owls' offense scored 64 points over the final thirty minutes of action and pulled within six points early in the third quarter. Each time Kennesaw State answered with a run, Eastern Kentucky responded with big shots to stop KSU's momentum. Whitfield led the Owls with 23 points, Lyndsey Whilby registered 17 and Carly Hooks added 11 to power the KSU offense.
COACH OCTAVIA BLUE QUOTES
On tonight's performance…
"Defense was the name of the game. We are playing our first conference game on the road and gave up 87 points. We did a poor job of defending the three-point line and limiting easy touches for Walker, who is a tough cover all over the floor. Offensively, we got out to a slow start, scoring only eight points to EKU's 21. We dug ourselves a hole in which we had to fight hard to get out of and ultimately came up short."
On Whitfield's big night…
"Jah'Che has just become really reliable. She comes through every game no matter who we are playing. She has worked hard in the offseason to improve her three-point shot and now that she has knocking down the three consistently, her game has gone to another level."
On the team fighting back after the slow start…
"We started to pick up the pace and score in transition a bit and play our style. When we get stops and are able to get out and run, good things usually happen for us."
On bouncing back and getting ready for the conference home opener against Austin Peay…
"We have got to do a better job on the defensive end and getting stops. We cannot allow anyone to come into our home and have any shot they'd like, like we did tonight. Heading into Thursday's game against Austin Peay, we must lock in and not have any missed defensive assignments."
HOW IT HAPPENED
KSU made its first two field goals of the game before EKU answered with 10 straight points three minutes in.
The Colonels pushed the lead to 11, 19-8, after making four straight shots from the field with 2:30 left in the first quarter.
Whitfield and Amani Johnson opened the second quarter with two points each and Prencis Harden had consecutive blocks on the defensive end as the Owls cut the deficit to 21-12.
Both teams traded buckets over the next several minutes, Kennesaw State shot 5-of-6 from the field during the stretch. Whitfield and Harden were key in the offensive run, scoring four points each.
Hooks and Whilby scored on back-to-back layups to pull within 10, 38-28 with two minutes left in the half. Both teams knocked down a free throw each over the final two minutes as KSU trailed 39-29 at the break.
Whitfield and Hooks got the Owls off to a fast start in the second half, as the two knocked down two free throws each to pull within six, 39-33.
Eastern Kentucky answered with a 9-4 run to extend the lead back to double-digits, 48-37 at the five-minute mark of the third quarter.
Each time KSU would respond to the Colonels, EKU would answer with a big shot of its own. Whilby connected on a triple with 10 seconds left, but Eastern Kentucky's Danielle Rainey banked in a three as time expired to push the lead to 62-47.
Trailing 65-49 early in the fourth, Kennesaw State scored seven straight points, highlighted by five from Whitfield to pull within double digits again, 65-56, with 7:01 left in regulation. EKU connected on two consecutive three-pointers to counter the KSU run.
Whilby hit another triple to make it 76-64, but the Colonels finished the contest on an 11-8 run to hold off the Owls, 87-72.
UP NEXT
KSU hosts Austin Peay Thursday at 7 p.m. for the ASUN Conference home opener.
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.
