Score: Kennesaw State 85, Queens 63
Records: Kennesaw State (14-15, 10-8), Queens (8-21, 3-15)
Key Players: Jah'Che Whitfield (17 pts, 5 rebs, 5 asts, 1 stl, 1 blk); Lyndsey Whilby (14 pts, 10 rebs, 4-8 3FGs); Carly Hooks (14 pts, 5 rebs, 3 asts, 2 stls, 2 blks); Amani Johnson (13 pts, 6 asts, 2 rebs, 2 asts)
THE STORYLINE
Kennesaw State raced out to a 21-point lead after the first quarter and didn't look back as the Owls cruised to an 85-63 win over Queens in the regular-season finale Wednesday night at the KSU Convocation Center. The Owls scored a season-best 31 first-quarter points, two shy of the highest point total of any quarter this season and led wire-to-wire.
Tonight's win over the Royals capped off an impressive regular season and second-year campaign under head coach Octavia Blue as Kennesaw State posted the most overall wins in nearly 10 years and its first 10-win season in ASUN Conference play for the first time since 2008-09. In addition to that milestone, the Owls finished with a 9-4 mark at home this season, the most wins by Kennesaw State at the KSU Convocation Center since 2015-16. The 85 points scored by KSU were the most scored in an ASUN game by the Owls this season and were the most scored by Kennesaw State since putting up 88 against Lipscomb three years ago.
Graduate seniors Jah'Che Whitfield and Amani Johnson were stellar on Wednesday night as four Owls scored in double-figures on the night, led by Whitfield's 17 points. Lyndsey Whilby posted her second career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, Carly Hooks chipped in 14 and Amani Johnson added 13 points and six assists on the night.
The Owls clinched the No. 7 seed in the ASUN Conference Tournament with a 10-8 record and will take on No. 8 seed Jacksonville State on No. 2 seed Liberty's campus in Lynchburg, Va. Saturday at 4 p.m. (ET).
COACH OCTAVIA BLUE QUOTES
On the 23-point victory…
"I think my team was hungry to play this game because we went up to Queens earlier in the year shorthanded. We only had eight players available, with seven of those who had played. We were anxious to get them back on our court and avenge that game."
On the 31-point outburst in the first quarter…
"We wanted to come out and make a statement as soon as we touched the floor. Our defensive pressure was where it needed to be and where I would have liked to have seen that the entire year, scoring six points in the first 46 seconds."
On carrying this momentum into the conference tournament…
"It's 0-0. That's the thing about postseason play, it's a new season, so we have to adjust to that. We are ready and we are ready to play whoever is on our plate and ready for the challenge."
On Lyndsey Whilby's double-double…
"I took a look at the stat sheet and told her she's got two minutes to go and get two points and two rebounds and she went out there and did just that. It was a really great moment for her and I'm really happy for our seniors to be able to do this on their last night in a home game here."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Kennesaw State sprinted out of the gate scoring eight straight points in the first two minutes as the full-court press created four turnovers and the Owls made their first four shots from the floor.
Three straight layups from Johnson, Hooks and Whitfield, and a pair of triples from Whilby capped off a 16-6 run after the 8-0 start to push the lead to 24-6 at the 3:21 mark in the first quarter.
KSU forced 10 first-quarter turnovers and saw its lead increase to 31-10 after the opening 10 minutes.
Both teams traded baskets across the second quarter. Whitfield's seven points in the second frame led the Owls and KSU took a 45-25 lead into halftime.
The Owls hit their first three shots to open the second half. Johnson connected on a step-back jumper and hit a layup on a fast break and Whitfield went up and under for a nice layup to push the lead to 24, 51-27.
KSU held Queens to 1-of-6 shooting from the floor through the first six minutes of the third and opened up a 59-29 lead behind the efforts of Johnson and Whitfield, who combined for 13 of KSU's 14 points.
Queens went on a 17-7 run, but the Owls held a 66-46 advantage with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Kennesaw State continued to cruise in the fourth quarter as the Owls scored 19 points in the final 10 minutes to pull away from the Royals, 85-63.
UP NEXT
The Owls earned the No. 7 seed in the ASUN Conference Tournament and will play No. 8 seed Jacksonville State Saturday in Lynchburg, Va. at 4 p.m. (ET).
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.
