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New Year Begins with In-State Rivalry Tuesday

1/1/2024 10:44:00 AM

By: Michael Pitts

The Lead

 

MACON, Ga. - Kennesaw State (4-8) is set to begin the 2024 calendar year renewing its rivalry with former Atlantic Sun foe Mercer (5-10) at 7:00 p.m. inside Hawkins Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

The 31st meeting between the in-state opponents will conclude the 2023-24 non-conference portion of the Owls' regular season. KSU is 10-8 in non-conference finales in its Division I history (since 2005-06). 

KSU and Mercer have met eight times as non-conference opponents since the Bears left the ASUN on July 1, 2014. Ten years later, on July 1, 2024, Kennesaw State will join Conference USA. KSU played four games against Tift College from 1982-85 and split the series, 2-2. Tift College later merged with Mercer. Including the Tift games, Mercer leads the all-time series, 17-13.

The Owls begin their final run in the Atlantic Sun Conference on Saturday, Jan. 6 vs. Queens (N.C.) inside the KSU Convocation Center.

Game Info

 

Date: Tuesday, Jan. 2 | Time: 7:00 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN+ | Arena: Hawkins Arena | KSU Game Notes | Mercer Game Notes | Live Stats

Game Notes

Prencis Harden
  • KSU begins 2024 following back-to-back games against Big East opponents.
    • The Owls came back from being down 50-31 to Providence on Dec. 21 to defeat the Friars 53-51.
      • After a game-tying three from Carly Hooks, Prencis Harden drained two free throws with under a second remaining to give KSU its second Power Six win in program history.
    • KSU battled for four quarters against Georgetown on Dec. 28 at the KSU Convocation Center but came up short, 57-55, after the Hoyas made two game-sealing free throws with seconds remaining.
      • Harden recorded her second double-double in three games against Georgetown.
  • Harden leads KSU in points (147), rebounds (72) and steals (17) entering Tuesday.
  • Mercer last played Saturday, Dec. 30 against Bethune-Cookman, losing 60-58.
  • Tuesday's contest breaks a 14-game streak for Kennesaw State against opponents with a .500 or better record.

Kyndall's Block Party

Kyndall Golden
  • Senior Kyndall Golden has shined on defense for the Owls this season and ranks among the best in the country in the following categories:
    • 35th in blocks per game (2.09)
    • 42nd in total blocks (23)
  • Both rank first in the Atlantic Sun.

In Our Blue Era

Coach Blue Extension 2027
  • On Dec. 7, Blue signed a contract extension through the 2026-27 season with KSU.
  • She is the fastest coach in Kennesaw State women's basketball's DI history to 27 wins, shattering the previous mark by 12 games.
  • Since Blue took over in 2021-22, the Owls have the third-most home conference wins of any DI women's basketball program in the state of Georgia (9), tied with UGA and Mercer - and behind only Georgia Southern (11) and Georgia Tech (10).
  • Coach Blue reached 19 home wins on Dec. 2 vs. Coastal Georgia, taking only 32 games to achieve the feat and passing former head coach Agnus Berenato's KSU women's basketball's DI record by six games.
  • The Black and Gold protected the Nest in 2022-23, accruing a 9-4 record inside the friendly confines of the KSU Convocation Center.
  • Last season, KSU WBB doubled its conference win total from five to 10, finishing with a 10-8 record in ASUN play.
  • In her first two seasons at the helm, Coach Blue has secured 24 wins, the second-most by a KSU coach in DI program history in their first two seasons.
  • Of the 14 Owls on the roster, seven are new to the Nest as freshmen or transfers, but for the first time as head coach, Blue's roster is 100% comprised of players brought in by one of her staffs.
cusa
  • The 2023-24 season marks the final year of competition for Kennesaw State in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
  • Effective July 1, 2024, the Owls will join NCAA Division I FBS and Conference USA. Click here for more info.

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