KENNESAW, Ga. - A gritty effort and another career day for Prencis Harden saw Kennesaw State come up just short to the Mercer Bears, 62-59, Monday night inside the KSU Convocation Center.

Harden set new career bests for points (34), rebounds (15), blocks (4) and field goals made (13) for her 17th career double-double and added to her Conference USA lead of six. The senior from Swainsboro, Ga. has reached 10 points in 12 of her last 14 games and 29 of her last 36 dating back to last season. She also leads the conference with six 10-rebound games. The forward was also perfect from the charity stripe Monday night (8-for-8).

The outing comes after she set her previous career-high for points the last time KSU was on the court (Dec. 19 vs. Georgia State - 26).

Graduate Carly Hooks was right behind her fellow team captain with 10 points of her own with three steals and three assists. Sophomore guard Kailyn Fields paced the team with five assists.

The Owls (5-6) erased an eight-point deficit in the third quarter and held the lead into the fourth before the Bears (5-10) sneaked by the home team.

Monday night marked the Owls' final regular season non-conference game of the 2024-25 campaign before the team embarks on its first Conference USA schedule this weekend.

FIRST HALF
Kennesaw State collected the first three points of the game and five of the Owls' first eight came from Harden. Mercer led 13-8 at the first media timeout. Harden reached double digits with just over a minute remaining to get KSU within two, 20-18. Mercer managed a slim 24-20 lead out of the first stanza. Harden's 13 points and three boards led the team in the period. Kailyn Fields had three assists in the first 10 minutes.

Mercer collected the first bucket of the second quarter and held a 30-24 lead at the media timeout with 4:50 left. A tough defensive showing from both squads in the second quarter, the Owls forced four Mercer turnovers in the final five minutes. The road team led 34-28 at the break.

Harden led the way with 17 points, three blocks and eight rebounds. Fields' five assists led the Owls.

SECOND HALF
The Owls' first score of the half came on a trey from Carly Hooks to get KSU within five, 36-31. Harden achieved her double-double early in the third. Back-to-back jumpers from the senior got KSU within four, 39-35, with 6:25 left. An and-one play for Harden cut the deficit to three, 41-38, with just over four minutes left in the third. Hooks evened the game at 41 on a trey with over three-and-a-half minutes remaining. Mercer took a one-point lead before another and-one play at 3:08 - this from Keyarah Berry - gave Kennesaw State its first lead since the opening stages, 43-42. Harden tied her career-high point mark to give KSU a three-point advantage, 45-42. Her next score put KSU up 49-46 with under a minute left to set her new career-best of 28. The Owls held that score going into the fourth.

Harden kept the offensive streak going, collecting each of the first two scores for KSU to give KSU a 53-46 lead with just over eight minutes left in the game. Mercer then got within three, 53-50, before another Hooks three-pointer ended their run with five minutes on the clock. A couple of free throws from the Bears evened the game at 56 with just over two minutes remaining. A pair of Harden free throws gave the Owls a 58-57 lead. Mercer got out in front with 30 seconds remaining and held on for the 62-59 win.

GAME NOTES

• Harden is now averaging 0.1 rebound shy of a double-double on the season (17.0 PPG, 9.9 RPG).
• She also moved into ninth in career offensive rebounds in the KSU DI era (190).
• Her 13 made field goals were the most by an Owl in the Blue Era (since 2021-22). Her 15 rebounds and four blocks tied the most by an Owl in the span as well.
• Fields now has three games of at least five assists this season.

HEAD COACH OCTAVIA BLUE POSTGAME



UP NEXT
Kennesaw State returns to the court Saturday, Jan. 4 for its first Conference USA matchup on the road against familiar foe Jacksonville State. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

The Black and Gold are back at the KSU Convocation Center Thursday, Jan. 9 to face 2024 CUSA Champion Middle Tennessee at 7:00 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets here. Kennesaw State University students get free admission to all home KSU women's basketball games this season, click here for more info.

Stay updated with the action on the court for KSU women's basketball on X @KSUOwlsWBB, Instagram at @KSUOwlsWBB and on Facebook here.
  Read Full Article