By: Zac Pike
Kennesaw State (12-13), (8-6)
at North Florida (6-18), (3-11)
Location: Jacksonville, Fla. | UNF Arena
Date: Feb. 18
Time: 2:00 p.m. EST
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State women's basketball wraps up its final road game of the regular season with a matchup at North Florida Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Owls are coming off another huge win at Jacksonville Thursday night where KSU allowed a season-low 47 points in a 54-47 win over the Dolphins. The Owls took down JU in Jacksonville for the first time in 11 years and only allowed 15 second-half points in the win.
KSU has won eight games in ASUN Conference play for the first time since the 2016-17 squad finished 8-6 and enter the matchup at UNF on a three-game winning streak. KSU now has posted two separate three-game winning streaks in conference action for the first time since the 2007-08 season. With a win on Saturday at North Florida, the Owls will have the most wins in ASUN competition since the 2008-09 team finished with 11 victories.
Kennesaw State and the Ospreys have been longtime foes on the basketball court, meeting 52 times with the Owls holding a 28-24 advantage in the all-time series. The Owls knocked off UNF last season 63-57 at home in the KSU Convocation Center which featured three KSU players score in double digits.
Amani Johnson led the way with 18 points, three assists and three rebounds,
Bre'Lyn Snipes added 11 points and
Gabi Legister chipped in 10.
40 is the Magic Number
Shooting over 40 percent from the field and holding opponents under 40 percent shooting has been a key number this season for the Owls. Kennesaw State is 10-2 this season when shooting at a 40-percent clip and is 10-4 when holding its opponent below the number.
Owls Break Streak at Jacksonville
KSU allowed a season-low 47 points and just 15 second-half points in a 54-47 win at Jacksonville on Thursday night. The win was Kennesaw's first win in Jacksonville in 11 years and was the first victory in the series since 2019.
Jah'Che Whitfield and
Carly Hooks combined for 28 points as the Owls took down the Dolphins.
Blue's Squad Surpasses Last Season's Win Totals
KSU already surpassed last year's win totals by three games with four contests still remaining on the conference slate, with three of those coming at home for the final three tilts of the regular season. After three straight wins against EKU, Bellarmine and at Jacksonville, the Owls are tied for fifth with EKU in the top half of the ASUN Conference standings. Kennesaw State has been particularly strong at home this season, posting a 7-3 mark and needs just one more win to secure the most home wins since the 2015-16 season.
A Model of Consistency
The graduate senior has been one of the ASUN's most prolific scorers and has averaged 17.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.2 steals in her last five games and has scored in double-figures in 17 of her past 19 games. Whitfield leads the Owls in scoring (14.2), rebounding (5.8), defensive rebounds (117), made field goals (127), field goals attempted (300), free throws made (81), steals (39) and free throws attempted (117). The graduate senior ranks 6th in the ASUN in points per game (14.2) and 14th in rebounds (5.6).
Amazing Amani Johnson
The guard has rewritten the record books during her time at Kennesaw State and is the KSU DI all-time leader in scoring (1,603), assists (607), field goals made (588), field goals attempted (1,577), minutes played (4,983) and steals (244). Johnson leads the ASUN in minutes played (37.8) and is in the top four of the conference in assist/turnover ratio (2.00), assists (122) and assists per game (4.9). Johnson scored a season-best 27 points (20 in the second half) in a 77-73 win over Bellarmine last Saturday.
Hardly a Sweat
Prencis Harden has been on a roll over the past six games. The Swainsboro, Ga. native has averaged 9.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game since Central Arkansas. Harden has played some of the best basketball of her career, setting career-highs in points (16 at Queens), rebounds (10 at Liberty and vs. EKU) and her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds against EKU.
Block Party
Standing 5'8,
Carly Hooks has been a catalyst on defense all season disrupting opposing offenses in a variety of ways. The guard leads the team with 15 blocks on the season and is third on the squad with 31 steals. In addition to her stellar defense, the Atlanta native has scored 13 or more points in five of her last nine games, including a career-high 21 points in a 71-52 win at Lipscomb.
Attacking the Paint
Kennesaw State's downhill offensive attack has created plenty of opportunities at the charity stripe as the Owls lead the ASUN and are ranked 42nd overall in the NCAA in free throw attempts, averaging 20.36.
Crashing the Glass
KSU's offensive rebounding has been a staple all season. The Owls lead the ASUN and are 70th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game, with 13.4. Kennesaw State has at least 11 offensive rebounds in 18 of 25 games this season.
Scouting North Florida
The Ospreys are currently on a five-game losing streak dating back to Jan. 28. Lyric Swann leads UNF, averaging 14.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Forward Emma Broermann averages 8.3 points and 6.5 rebounds. Broermann has started all 23 games this season and will leave the Ospreys in the top-10 in DI program history in total rebounds (463), offensive rebounds (203), blocks (51), field goals made (278) and best career field goal percentage (.536).
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.
