FORT MYERS, Fla. - Kennesaw State's (8-10, 4-1 Atlantic Sun Conference) program-record six-game ASUN win streak came to an end Saturday at the hands of the unbeaten FGCU Eagles (15-4, 5-0 ASUN), 93-65, inside Alico Arena.
Despite the defeat, the Owls start 4-1 in ASUN play for the first time in program history and the first time to a conference schedule since 2000-01 when KSU was a member of the Peach Belt Conference and NCAA Division II. 2023-24 is the ninth time the Owls have started 4-1 to a conference slate.
Junior
Morgan Dillard delivered a career-day on the court for the Owls, setting new personal single-game marks in points (22) and made field goals (9). She shot 90% from the floor against the Eagles.
"Morgan had a coming-out party today - specifically in the second half," head coach
Octavia Blue said. "She was able to put a couple of plays together and be an offensive force."
Kennesaw State is now 6-1 in its last seven regular season conference games and 7-3 in its last 10. On Thursday at Stetson, Blue became the fastest KSU head coach to 19 Atlantic Sun victories, needing only 38 games and besting the previous mark of 48.
FGCU entered the contest at No. 5 on the College Insider's women's basketball mid-major top 25 poll.
"Give credit to FGCU; Karl Smeskos has done great job with that program," Blue said. "It's a challenge for any team to prepare for them with one day to do so."
The Black and Gold shot 53.1% from the floor against the Eagles - their highest percentage in the category this season, third in the Blue Era and highest since Mar. 4, 2023 against Jacksonville State in the ASUN tournament (53.7%).
"Our focus is on learning from this experience and getting better as we get ready for our next road game at North Alabama," Blue added.
Dillard scored first for either side, giving KSU a 2-0 lead at the 9:42 mark. She scored four of the Owls' first six points.
Laura Toffali,
Prencis Harden and
Trynce Taylor all added buckets but KSU trailed 23-10 after one.
The Owls shot 45.5% from the floor in the first 10 minutes and held FGCU to 1-for-4 from beyond the arc.
Kayla Massop made her fourth start of the season Saturday and scored the opening points from their team in the second quarter.
With 3:17 left in the second, Hooks drained four points in a 22-second span for her first points of the game. She scored the final nine points of the half but FGCU led 45-25 going into the halfway mark.
Dillard led KSU with five points in the third quarter while Taylor and
Layla Hood paced the Owls with two rebounds. FGCU led 71-41 going into the fourth.
KSU's defense held the FGCU offensive attack to a 2:58 scoring drought towards the end of the fourth that allowed KSU, led by Dillard, to secure eight-consecutive points.
After two additional buckets from Dillard,
Taylor Cullinan drained her second trey on the season with 2:16 remaining.
"Taylor gave us some good minutes tonight," Blue said of the junior.
Dillard had a fourth-quarter stat line of 13 points, one rebound, one assist and one steal while shooting 5-for-6 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the free throw line.
The Black and Gold outscored FGCU 24-22 in the final 10 minutes but were unable to topple the now 5-0 Eagles, 93-65.
KSU paced the Eagles in free throw percentage, 79% to 75%.
Kennesaw State concludes its road trip Wednesday, Jan. 24 at North Alabama. KSU returns to the Convocation Center on Saturday, Jan. 27 for Pink Day against Central Arkansas at 2:00 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets
here.
