CLEMSON, S.C. - Kennesaw State delivered a tenacious defensive team effort but fell just short against on the road against the ACC's Clemson Tigers inside Littlejohn Coliseum Sunday afternoon, 67-48.

The Black and Gold (2-4) surged out of the gate and led by as much as eight in the first half before the Tigers (5-2) roared back for the victory. Senior Prencis Harden led the way with her 30th game in double-digit point figures with 11 including a 5-for-8 free throw clip. Fellow seniors Keyarah Berry and Morgan Dillard followed closely behind with eight points of their own.

Harden moved into 10th in Kennesaw State Division I history in career points, now at 703.

Berry had six rebounds, tied with Carly Hooks for the team lead.

Kennesaw State shot 60% from the floor in the opening quarter and held back the Tiger defensive effort. The Owls combined that with a stellar defensive attack, forcing the Tigers to 6-for-15 from the floor and 1-for-6 from beyond the arc in the opening frame. KSU kept the pressure in the second quarter, holding Clemson to just 20% from the floor.

KSU held Clemson to just 19 first half points, their third-fewest this season behind 14 against No. 23 Alabama and 17 at home versus then-No. 1 South Carolina. The Owl defense also held The Tigers to their third-lowest three-point percentage in a game at 30%, behind their season opener vs. Jackson State (25%) and against the Crimson Tide (6.7%). 

The offense limited takeaways Sunday, holding Clemson to a season-low three steals and zero blocked shots.

A game of long runs, the two sqauds changed advantages just three times Sunday while the Owls led for over 21 minutes. 

FIRST HALF
Harden collected the first three points of the ballgame via a free throw and two-point jumper. A pair of layups from Hooks pushed the Owl advantage up to four, 9-5, three minutes into the game. The Black and Gold led 13-11 at the first media timeout. A flurry of baskets from Dillard, Taylor Cullinan, Lee Lee Willis and Keiara Griffin gave KSU a 19-13 lead after the first.

Dillard opened the second with a layup, getting the Owls out to their largest lead of the day by that point at eight, 21-13. A lighter second quarter from an offensive standpoint, the Owls shut down the Clemson offense, holding the Tigers to just six more points before the break, forcing a 26-19 halftime advantage. Dillard led the way with six points while Hooks paced the Owls with five rebounds.


SECOND HALF
Clemson's offensive stormed out of the gate in the second half and retook the lead, 31-30, with over six minutes left in the third. A pair of Harden free throws evened the game again at 33 before the Tigers took a 42-35 lead into the fourth.

Harden eclipsed double figures in the fourth quarter for the 30th time as an Owl. Berry got KSU within five on the first bucket of the fourth quarter before Clemson pulled away for the 67-48 win.


GAME NOTES

• Kennesaw State forced Clemson to start 1-for-13 from the three point line, adding to the CUSA-leading three-point defense percentage.
• The Owls held Clemson to 67 points after the Tigers had scored at least 78 in four of its first six games this season.
• Sunday was Harden's 15th career game leading the Owls in points.

HEAD COACH OCTAVIA BLUE POSTGAME
"I was really pleased with how we started out tonight. I think our defensive effort was there which allowed us to rebound the ball and get out in transition for a bit. I thought we were executing and had great pace. I was really pleased with our first half," - on jumping on the Tigers out of the gate and leading by as much as eight including holding a seven-point advantage at the half.

"I think it just shows what we're capable of. And obviously we have to be able to put it together for four quarters but today I think we learned a lot about ourselves and the effort that is needed to be able to compete at a high level consistently and just really pleased overall. I thought we fought a little bit and had a couple missed shots in the second half but we ultimately gave up too many points in the third and fourth quarters," - on the promise Kennesaw State showed Sunday against a tougher level of competition.
 

"We practice pretty intense so we're going to make sure that we'll be ready for our next game on Sunday against a really good opponent in Chattanooga. But our ladies understand what it takes to play at a high level consistently and we're just going to get back in the gym and keep working," - on preparing the Owls for next Sunday vs. UTC - just KSU's third game in 22 days.

UP NEXT
Kennesaw State's road trip continues next Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2:00 p.m. against the Chattanooga Mocs on ESPN+.

The Owls return to the KSU Convocation Center Thursday, Dec. 19 at 7:00 p.m. to face in-state foe Georgia State. Fans can purchase tickets here. KSU students receive free admission to all home KSU women's basketball games this season. Read Full Article