JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A ferocious fourth-quarter rally from Kennesaw State (10-17, 6-8 Atlantic Sun Conference) came up just short against Jacksonville (9-17, 5-8 ASUN), 70-59, Thursday night inside Swisher Gymnasium.
Following the Owls' contest, Queens defeated North Florida, allowing the Black and Gold to clinch a spot in the 2024 Atlantic Sun tournament. 2023-24 marks the final season for KSU in the ASUN before moving to Conference USA on July 1.
Taylor Cullinan scored a career-best nine points, all on shots from beyond the arc in 16 minutes of action. She also added six rebounds, two assists and one block to her stat line.
"Here's a player that doesn't play a lot but took advantage of her opportunity, hit some big shots and was a huge reason we were able to get back in the game," head coach
Octavia Blue said of the junior.
Leading the Black and Gold in scoring was
Keyarah Berry with 13. It was her 10th game at KSU in double figures and fourth in the last six games.
Freshman
Trynce Taylor had a team-high seven rebounds, her sixth game leading Kennesaw State in the category this season. She was also in double figures for the second time in three games with 10 points.
Senior
Carly Hooks posted her 23rd-career game with 10-or-more points and now stands only 18 away from 1,000 in her collegiate career.
Morgan Dillard also had nine points Thursday night.
A bucket from Berry ended a 9-0 start to the game for the Dolphins. The junior made her sixth start of the season against the Dolphins.
Hooks' first basket came just before the end of the first. JU led 21-4 after the first 10. Taylor tied her career-high with three steals in the first period.
Sophia Rueppell drained her 12th trey of the season for the first score in the second that allowed KSU to open the quarter on a 12-0 run. Jacksonville was held scoreless for almost seven minutes during the offensive urge.
Cullinan's first block of the season prevented further JU points. The junior followed that with her third made shot from beyond the arc this season to put KSU within eight, 31-23.
She led the Owls with five first-half rebounds as the Dolphins led at the break, 32-23.
Berry led KSU with eight points in the first two quarters. Kennesaw State outscored the home team 19-11 in the second quarter.
Hooks posted her team-best 19th trey of the season towards the end of the third. JU led 55-40 going into the fourth.
Berry reached double point figures about halfway into the final period.
Cullinan scored back-to-back three's to put KSU within 11, 61-50, with almost four minutes left. A basket by Taylor cut the deficit to nine, 61-52 with under three left.
A three from Berry further cut into JU's lead, 61-55, with two minutes on the clock.
"I had to go with some unorthodox lineups with kids that were willing to sit down and guard a little bit," Blue said of adjustments entering the final quarter.
Hooks achieved her double-digit-scoring outing 1:07 remaining in regulation.
Jacksonville held on in the final minute to take the 70-59 victory.
The Owls return to the court Saturday, Feb. 24 at 2:00 p.m. against the North Florida Ospreys inside UNF Arena. Fans can catch the action on ESPN+.
