FLORENCE, Ala. - Kennesaw State's (8-11, 4-2 Atlantic Sun Conference) three-game road trip came to an end Wednesday with a 79-60 defeat to the North Alabama Lions (6-13, 3-3 ASUN) inside CB&S Bank Arena.
Junior forward
Prencis Harden led KSU with 14 points on the evening. It marked her 13th game in double figures this season and 11th in the last 12 games. She posted a 60% field goal percentage Wednesday night.
Carly Hooks also secured a double-digit-scoring game with 12 points - her eighth of the season. She had five assists and four rebounds.
Joining Hooks and Harden in double figures was
Keyarah Berry, who ended the night with 10 on top of four rebounds of her own.
Both squads were scoreless through the opening two minutes before
Trynce Taylor broke through with the first score. The freshman made her first career start Wednesday and had four rebounds in the opening quarter.
"We brought her in tonight because of her mobility to go against their offense," head coach
Octavia Blue said of Taylor getting the start. "She has the ability to defend and guard."
She led Kennesaw State with eight rebounds in the game.
Hooks had four of the Owls' opening eight points - all coming before the first media timeout at 4:29.
Kyndall Golden recorded the first block of the evening for Kennesaw State and extended her ASUN-leading season total to 33.
KSU kept North Alabama 1-for-5 from beyond the arc in the first but UNA led 15-10 after one.
"North Alabama has been playing really well and has a tremendous ability to hit the three-ball," Blue said. "We need to do a better job defensively and have a better focus in shot selection."
A trey from
Laura Toffali got KSU within four, 17-13, at the 9:39 mark.
Following a North Alabama run, the Owl defense forced a UNA scoring drought of over two minutes and five-straight missed field goals from the Lions that got KSU within six, 29-23.
Harden's eight points led the Black and Gold after two quarters. Hooks posted six points and four rebounds. UNA led 35-25 at the half.
The Owl offense got started in the third quarter on a three-pointer from
Kailyn Fields.
The freshman had a team-best five third-quarter points. North Alabama held a 58-36 lead after three.
Berry made her presence known on the court in the final quarter, tallying eight of her 10 points on the night in the final 10 minutes.
North Alabama maintained the lead in the fourth and secured the victory, 79-60.
The Black and Gold return home Saturday, Jan. 27 for Pink Day presented by Wellstar against Central Arkansas. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. inside the KSU Convocation Center.
"Pink Day is always a great day to recognize the fight and the battle of ones that we've lost and those that are currently going through the battle with breast cancer," Blue said.
Saturday marks KSU's sixth-annual Pink Day game and 18th-annual event raising awareness for breast cancer.
Kennesaw State has won a program-record five-consecutive Atlantic Sun games on home court dating back to the 2022-23 season.
"Excited to get back home to the Convo and to our fans," Blue added. "We have a tremendous track record in winning conference games at home."
Fans can catch the action on ESPN+ or purchase tickets
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