WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -
Prencis Harden and
Trynce Taylor continued their impressive December but Kennesaw State (3-7) fell to San Diego State (8-4), 75-52, Wednesday inside Rubin Arena at the West Palm Beach Classic.
Harden tallied the second double-double of her KSU career with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Her first double-double came on Feb. 9, 2023 vs. Eastern Kentucky. The junior is the third Owl this season to reach the feat, joining Taylor and
Carly Hooks. She was one rebound shy of the statistic on Sunday vs. Belmont.
She became the first Owl to eclipse 100 points this season, now at 112. Wednesday was her third-straight double-digit-scoring game and fifth in the last six games.
Taylor reached double digits in points for the third time in her freshman campaign and second time in the last three contests. She led KSU with 15 on the afternoon.
Harden and Taylor combined for 29 points after combining for 27 on Sunday vs. Belmont.
"Prencis and Trynce play really well together," head coach
Octavia Blue said of the pair. "They've developed really good chemistry on the court. Both are great rebounders and have the ability to create for themselves and others."
The Owls doubled the Aztecs' second-chance points, 14 to seven. KSU's streak of facing opponents with records of .500 or better to 12 dating back to the 2022-23 season.
Harden leads the team with 56 points in four games this month. Taylor is second with 47.
A three-pointer from senior Hooks marked the game's first points.
After a run in the middle of the quarter by the Aztecs, the Owls were able to cut the deficit to seven, 23-16, at the end of one.
Taylor led the Owls with six points in the period.
KSU converted nine SDSU turnovers into 12 points in the half. The Owls allowed only three second-chance points to the Aztecs in the first 20 minutes of play but SDSU led 40-29 at the halfway point.
Hooks blocked a shot in the first half that moved her into sole possession of ninth place in the KSU Division I career blocks list with 46, breaking her tie with
Gillian Piccolino.
Taylor and Harden's four points each led the team in the second.
Harden's defense was the highlight of the third quarter, collecting five boards. SDSU led by 14 heading into the final period.
Laura Toffali set a career-high with eight points, setting the new mark with the first KSU field goal of the fourth quarter.
The sophomore's bucket contributed to a 6-0 run for the Owls that cut the deficit to nine, 59-50.
"LaLa (Toffali) has had a great week of practice. She earned increased playing because of it," Blue mentioned. "She played tough, hard-nosed defense and gave us a spark offensively when it was needed."
Harden secured her double-double in the final 10 minutes of play, becoming the third Owl this season to achieve the mark.
San Diego State managed 19 fourth-quarter points to secure the 75-52 victory.
"The message is always to learn and improve from game to game. We are a work in-progress," Blue explained. "We can never get too high over a win, and too low over a loss."
The Black and Gold return to the court at the West Palm Beach Classic on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 1:15 p.m. against Providence. Fans can catch the action
here($).
"We have a quick turnaround as we face a good Providence team tomorrow," Blue said. Our focus is on bouncing back."
