RUSTON, La. – Kennesaw State women's basketball faced Louisiana Tech (11-6, 4-2 CUSA) for the first time in program history Saturday evening at Thomas Assembly Center. Despite four double-digit scorers, the Owls suffered the narrow defeat, 83-71, to the Lady Techsters.
The Owls (6-10, 1-4 CUSA) shot 40.9% from the field led by graduate Keiara Griffin with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting, going 2-for-3 from the free-throw line.
Senior Prencis Harden nabbed her 10th double-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists, while Keyarah Berry added 14 points, seven rebounds, and two assists.
Sophomore Kailyn Fields made an impact in the first half with 11 points before then adding five more in the second half. Fields finished with a new season-high of 16 points, including four three-pointers.
FIRST HALF
With a slow start from both sides of the court, the Owls were the first on the board with a layup by Carly Hooks. La. Tech quickly responded with three-straight points to take the lead before Griffin answered with a tough and-one layup.
The Lady Techsters then worked the three-point line, keeping KSU at arm's length with a five-point lead at 12-7 halfway through the first quarter. Fields stepped up with back-to-back threes, closing the gap to just one point before La. Tech ended the first quarter a 4-0 run, taking a 16-12 lead into the second.
The Owls opened the second quarter facing a 10-point deficit but used a strong drive by Berry, a Lee Lee Willis steal and free throws to power Kennesaw State to a 7-0 run in a two-minute span to pull within two.
Fields wasn't done yet, hitting her third three-pointer of the half to keep the Owls in the game. After La. Tech answered with a quick 4-0 run of their own, Fields responded with another jumper to close the half, cutting the deficit to 43-35 and helping KSU tie the quarter at 20 points apiece.
At the half, Fields and Berry both contributed 11 points, while Harden led the Owls with eight rebounds.
SECOND HALF
The second half kicked off with Harden putting three quick points on the board for Kennesaw State, continuing the strong play from the second quarter. Griffin followed with a mid-range jumper to pull to a 43-40 deficit. Fields then hit a big three-pointer, closing the gap to just two points at45-43, surpassing her previous season-high of 11 points, set against San Jose State.
Kennesaw State found itself in foul trouble early during the third quarter, committing six fouls and allowing La. Tech to score seven of its 10 points from the free-throw line, extending the Bulldog lead 53-45. Despite the challenges, Willis kept the Owls in the game, hitting back-to-back threes to pull KSU within four points.
Griffin then slid in a layup, becoming the third Owl to reach double digits and narrowing the gap further. Despite La. Tech answering with another three-pointer to end the third quarter, KSU won the quarter battle, 19-17.
The Owls came out strong in the fourth, with Hooks responding to a 5-0 run from La.Tech by hitting a three of her own, cutting the deficit to 62-58. Griffin then hit a short shot in the lane between two more three-pointers from La. Tech, keeping the Owls within striking distance at 67-60.
Foul trouble continued to plague Kennesaw State late, allowing the Lady Techsters to extend their lead. Harden, however, kept fighting, reaching the double-double milestone early in the quarter to keep the Owls within five points at 71-66.
After both teams traded free throws, La. Tech managed to extend their lead by four more points, pushing the difference to nine at 75-66. The Lady Techsters then jumped out to their largest lead of the game late -- a 12-point advantage at 80-68.
Griffin broke the scoring drought for KSU with a layup, cutting the gap to 71-81 after a minute of trading free throws. The Lady Techsters were able to keep the Owls at bay from mounting a final comeback.
HEAD COACH OCTAVIA BLUE POSTGAME
"That's a really talented team with a young lady in [Paris] Bradley who's been playing at a really high level – one of the best freshmen in this league. Tonight was a battle back and forth. We had a slow start in the first quarter. We got ourselves down early and that's something you cannot do on the road in someone else's home."
"But we did battle back. We tied them in scoring in the second quarter and then, in the third quarter, we outscored them. But it was the fourth quarter and the fouling that kind of kept us away. But credit to that team, they played really hard. Every time we tried to make a run, they answered on the other end."
"We just have to continue to learn what it takes to win. I think the little things like boxing out and limiting second-chance opportunities really hindered us from getting a victory here on the road. We have to clean up the controllables and everything else will take care of itself."
GAME NOTES
UP NEXT
The Owls return to the KSU Convocation Center on Thursday, Jan. 23 to face New Mexico State at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Fans can purchase tickets here.
KSU students receive free admission to all home KSU women's basketball games this season.
