Score: Kennesaw State 55, Central Arkansas 59
Records: Kennesaw State (9-11, 5-4), Central Arkansas (7-13, 2-7)
Key Players: Amani Johnson (17 pts, 5 asts, 4 stls, 3 rebs, 1 blk); Carly Hooks (15 pts, 3 rebs, 1 ast); Prencis Harden (11 pts, 8 rebs, 3 stls, 1 ast)
THE STORYLINE
Kennesaw State stormed back in the final minute of regulation but saw its comeback fall short as the Owls fell 59-55 to Central Arkansas Saturday afternoon at the KSU Convocation Center. Coming out of a timeout trailing 57-50, Amani Johnson connected on a triple and forced a huge steal and found Carly Hooks under the basket for the easy layup to make it 57-55 with 19 seconds remaining. After KSU fouled on the ensuing play, the Sugar Bears knocked down a pair of free throws to go up 59-55. The Owls had a couple of looks from beyond the arc but neither found the net as Central Arkansas held off Kennesaw State for the win. The trio of Johnson, Hooks and Prencis Harden combined for 43 of KSU's 55 points. Johnson scored 14 of her 17 points in the second half and added five assists, four steals, three rebounds and a block to lead the Owls. Hooks finished with 15 points and Harden added 11 and a career-best eight boards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams started hot, shooting over 67 percent from the field over the first four minutes to make it a 10-9 game in favor of the Owls early. Hooks scored seven of the 10 points, going 3-of-4 from the field.
The Sugar Bears answered with a 10-3 run to take a 19-13 lead with 21 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
UCA scored eight of the first 12 points to begin the second quarter to push its lead to 10, 27-17 with 6:41 left in the half.
KSU closed out the half on a 5-2 stretch, highlighted by a Harden steal and layup to cut it to 29-22 at the break. The Owls held Central Arkansas to 1-of-4 shooting over the final four minutes of the quarter and forced five turnovers.
Gabi Legister pulled down an offensive rebound and got an easy putback to start the scoring in the second half. Johnson followed with a corner three-pointer, pull-up jumper and an assist to Harden off a steal to tie the game at 33-33 with just over 4:27 to go in the third quarter.
Central Arkansas finished the third quarter on a 13-5 run, including a buzzer-beater three as time expired to grab a 46-38 lead into the fourth.
Johnson registered four of Kennesaw State's first six points to start the fourth to cut the deficit to 47-44 with 7:20 remaining in regulation.
KSU's full-court pressure gave the Sugar Bears fits in the fourth quarter, forcing nine turnovers as Harden scored on back-to-back layups to retake the lead 50-49. Central Arkansas quickly answered with consecutive layups, including a three-point play to go back up four, 54-50 with 55.5 seconds left on the clock.
Coming out of a timeout trailing 57-50, Johnson knocked down a triple and forced a steal and found Hooks under the basket for the easy layup to make it 57-55 with 19 seconds remaining.
After KSU fouled on the inbounds play, the Sugar Bears knocked down two free throws to take a 59-55 lead. The Owls had a couple of looks from beyond the arc but neither found the net as Central Arkansas held off Kennesaw State for the win.
UP NEXT
KSU travels to Charlotte, N.C. to take on ASUN newcomer Queens Thursday 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.
