BOCA RATON, Fla. - A hot start defensively and another double-double from senior Prencis Harden were not enough to lift Kennesaw State women's basketball past Florida Atlantic Friday night, 71-56, on Abessino Court.

Harden posted her fourth double-double of the 2024-25 campaign and 15th in her Owl career (14 points, 13 rebounds). She also became one of nine Owls in Kennesaw State Division I history to achieve 500 career rebounds.

Graduate Carly Hooks tied her career-high for blocks in the first three minutes of the game and finished right behind her fellow team captain with 11 points of her own.

Taylor Cullinan finished right behind Harden with eight rebounds - a new career high.

KSU (3-5) led by 10 over Florida Atlantic (5-5) after the first quarter and stymied the home team's offensive gameplan before FAU bounced-back to take the hard-fought battle.


FIRST HALF
Hooks scored each of the first two buckets for KSU and delivered a block on the defensive end, giving the Black and Gold a 4-0 lead within the first minute. Her second block came around two minutes into the contest, leading to a Griffin layup to make it 6-2, KSU. Lee Lee Willis posted a team-high six points off the bench in the opening frame. Kennesaw State shot 47.4% from the floor in the first quarter and forced four FAU turnovers - leading 18-8 after the opening 10 minutes.

FAU posted the first points of the second period and got within three, 20-17, with just over six minutes left in the half. Hooks derailed the FAU scoring with the first trey for KSU. A layup from Taylor Cullinan and tip-in from Morgan Dillard helped KSU get back up by six, 27-21, with over three left. The home Owls got back within three, 28-25, with under a minute left. Kennesaw State held a 28-26 lead going into the half.

Hooks led KSU with seven points while Cullinan had six rebounds in the first half - tying her single-game career-high. 


SECOND HALF
Harden achieved her 500th rebound in the opening moments of the half and followed it with a two-point jumper for the first points of the third quarter. FAU evened the score at 32 almost three minutes into the half. Hooks ended an FAU run with a jumper to cut into the deficit, 40-34, with under four remaining in the third - getting in to double figures. FAU led 49-39 headed to the fourth.

Harden recorded her double-double in the opening moments of the fourth quarter. The senior also scored the first points for KSU in the quarter on a jumper. The two exchanged baskets before a Kailyn Fields trey got the Owls within nine, 55-46, with just over six minutes left. Gabriela Bendeck-Giron posted a pair of triples but Florida Atlantic's offense kept pace and held on for the 71-56 win.


GAME NOTES

• Friday was the 40th time Harden has led KSU in rebounds.
• Harden moved into sole possession of ninth in KSU DI career defensive rebounds (328).
• The KSU defense forced FAU to start 0-for-5 from three.
• FAU started 1-for-12 from the floor and shot 17.6% in the first quarter.

HEAD COACH OCTAVIA BLUE POSTGAME
"I've watched her just really grow as a player. She's earned everything she's gotten by her hard work and dedication to the game and I'm really happy for her," - on Harden achieving 500 career rebounds and moving up in several Kennesaw State career categories.

"We had a great start, that's what I expect of our team - especially coming here on the road, you have to start well. But I think defensively in the second half when FAU went on a run we kind of crumbled a little bit and I think we needed to step up and rise to the occasion. We answered a few buckets but again they went on another run and we weren't able to come back from that," - overall thoughts on Friday's game.

"Lee Lee hasn't played a full season as a Kennesaw State Owl so it's great to see her increase minutes. We've been slowly increasing and progressing her into the rotation and she's been playing great minutes for us," - on the growing impact of Willis in the Owls' lineup.

"It's business as usual. We obviously have to get the proper rest and making sure we're staying off of our feet so we can compete at a high level. The travel is part of it, it's college basketball. The CUSA/WAC Challenge is included in that, we have to make sure that we come in upbeat, we take care of our bodies, stay hydrated and be ready to compete on Monday," - on the long trip from Florida to Seattle, Wash. to face the Seattle Redhawks Monday night.


UP NEXT
Kennesaw State wraps up its five-game road trip Monday night in Seattle on ESPN+. Tip-off is set for 9:00 p.m. ET.

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