Score: Kennesaw State 70, Liberty 91
Records: No. 7 Kennesaw State (15-16, 10-8), No. 2 Liberty (23-7, 16-2)
Key Players: Prencis Harden (24 pts, 8-15 FGs. 8-10 FTs, 7 rebs, 3 asts, 2 stls); Amani Johnson (12 pts, 7 rebs, 4 asts, 1 stl); Stacie Jones (10 pts, 5 rebs, 1 blk, 1 stl); Jah'Che Whitfield (10 pts, 3 rebs, 1 stl)
THE STORYLINE
Prencis Harden scored a career-high 24 points, but Kennesaw State could not overcome a slow first quarter as the Owls fell 91-70 at Liberty in the ASUN Conference Quarterfinals Saturday afternoon. The Flames jumped out to an early double-digit lead after the opening 10 minutes. The Owls cut the deficit to 13 early in the third quarter but that was as close as Kennesaw State could pull within. Harden had a stellar day for the Owls and posted a game-high 24 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in her best game in a KSU uniform. Three other Owls finished the day scoring in double-figures. Amani Johnson added 12 points, and Stacie Jones and Jah'Che Whitfield registered 10 each.
KSU's season may have ended but in year two at the helm, head coach Octavia Blue guided Kennesaw State to its most overall wins in nearly 10 years. The 15 wins are tied for the third-most in a season in KSU's Division I history, and the Owls posted their first 10-win season in ASUN Conference since 2008-09. The Owls also finished with a 9-4 mark at home this season, the most wins by Kennesaw State at the KSU Convocation Center since 2015-16. KSU will look to continue to carry all of the positive momentum the 2022-23 Kennesaw State women's basketball team accomplished into next season.
COACH OCTAVIA BLUE QUOTES
On today's performance…
"We got out to a slow start. Liberty came out really hot and I didn't think our defense was where it needed to be early on. We kind of dug ourselves a hole, which we were chasing to get out of the entire game. I didn't like how we ended the season. I think Liberty, credit to them, is a great team and is probably going to fight for an ASUN Championship. I thought we have shown all season long that we could compete with anybody, besides the one game against FGCU. We haven't lost like that all season to a team in the conference. I just wanted us to compete a little bit better and show a little bit better to end our season."
On the team laying a foundation of success for Kennesaw State basketball…
"I had the opportunity to coach eight returners and they kind of understood where I was trying to go with the program. When you bring back a fifth-year senior in Amani Johnson and Jah'Che Whitfield for her graduate year, the contributions that they made alongside the transfers we brought in helped lay down the foundation of where Kennesaw State basketball is going. We return core pieces for next year. Prencis Harden really came into her own today. We bring back Carly Hooks and Stacie Jones. I feel like we have a lot of pieces to continue with what we set forth this season."
On Harden's growth this season and her importance to the team headed into next year…
"It's been huge. I think by getting playing time and her earning her starting role back, she's really got comfortable in our system and confident in her abilities. She has just worked really hard to understand why we do what we do. It's great having her return for next year. You can see her talent, it's through the roof and I'm excited to see where Prencis Harden can lead Kennesaw State women's basketball program to in the future."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Harden scored all four points for Kennesaw State in the first four minutes, but after the game was tied at 4-4, Liberty went on a 10-0 run to push its lead to 14-4.
The Flames knocked down four three-pointers in the first quarter and built a 26-8 lead after 10 minutes of action.
Kennesaw State opened the second quarter on a 6-0 run to make it a 12-point game, 26-14 behind buckets from Harden, Whitfield and Jones.
After Liberty answered by scoring five of the next six points, Johnson stopped the run with the Owls' first three-pointer of the day to cut it to 31-20 with 5:43 left in the half.
Keyarah Berry came off the bench and provided five points, but the Flames countered with seven points over the final 1:34 of the half, including a putback right at the buzzer to take a 48-31 lead into the break.
KSU's offense found its rhythm in the second quarter by scoring 23 points by attacking the glass and grabbing 10 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points for the Owls.
The Owls came out of the half and scored six of the first eight points as Johnson knocked down her second three of the game and Harden completed a three-point play to cut the Liberty lead to 50-37.
Harden continued to play excellent basketball down the stretch and scored the final six points of the third quarter for the Owls. The Flames pushed their lead back to 22 after three-quarters of play.
KSU scored 23 points in the final quarter and were led by Johnson and Whitfield's six points each, but Liberty's lead was out of reach for the Owls as the Flames would get the 91-70 win.
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.
