KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State (8-12, 4-3 Atlantic Sun Conference) battled for four quarters against Central Arkansas (14-6, 6-1 ASUN) Saturday but came up short, 67-60, on Pink Day inside the KSU Convocation Center.
Junior
Prencis Harden led the Black and Gold with 22 points, 14 rebounds and five steals for her ASUN-leading sixth double-double of the season. The Swainsboro, Ga. native has had 14 games in double point figures this season and 12 in the last 13 games.
KSU leads the conference with nine this season.
The Owls wore special pink uniforms Saturday to honor those who have battled and are currently battling breast cancer.
Both squads were scoreless through the opening 2:13 before
Morgan Dillard made two free throws to break the tie. Harden's first bucket came seconds later to put KSU back in front following a UCA trey, 4-3.
She made each of KSU's first two field goals Saturday afternoon. The Owls trailed 16-12 after the first.
Harden's fourth made field goal of the afternoon put the Black and Gold within two, 16-14, for the first points in the second period.
A three-point play by
Kyndall Golden moments later gave the Owls the advantage, 17-16. She drained a jumper a couple minutes later to put the Owls up 21-16. She also recorded her ASUN-leading 34th block of the 2023-24 campaign.
The senior had seven second-quarter points against the Sugar Bears. She ended Saturday with seven points, four rebounds and shot 5-for-6 from the free throw line.
Harden had a team-best 10 first half points with five rebounds.
Kennesaw State outscored Central Arkansas 13-8 in the second 10 minutes to take a 25-24 lead into the halfway mark. The stingy Owl defense forced 14 UCA turnovers.
After a brief run by UCA to open the third quarter, KSU stormed back and got within one, 34-33, after a takeaway and layup combo between Dillard and Hooks.
Central Arkansas and Kennesaw State traded field goals for most of the third period and entered the fourth tied at 42 apiece.
Harden tallied her 16th point of the game for KSU's first basket of the fourth.
After UCA retook the lead and extended it to 50-46, KSU answered with five unanswered points capped off by a trey from
Laura Toffali, 51-50.
Toffali drained another three moments later to extend KSU's advantage to 56-52.
Central Arkansas retook the lead with 1:56 remaining and held on to win, 67-60.
The Owls return to the court on Thursday, Feb. 1 for a 5:00 p.m. tip-off against Austin Peay. Fans can purchase tickets
here.
