KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State women's basketball got a pair of 21-point performances from
Prencis Harden and
Carly Hooks to secure a hard-fought 68-66 win over New Mexico State on Thursday evening inside the KSU Convocation Center.
Behind Harden and Hooks, the Owls (7-10, 2-4 CUSA) got a full-team performance, shooting 37.5 percent overall from the field and finishing 23-of-31 from the free-throw line, including the two clutch free throws to seal the victory.
Harden nabbed her CUSA-leading 11th double-double with 21 points, 16 rebounds, and three assists – reaching 16 boards for the second time this season. Hooks added a season-high 21 points, which eclipsed her previous high of 14 at Jacksonville State. She also added two rebounds and two assists.
Forward
Keiara Griffin made an impact in the second half with 11 points in 11 minutes of action, including going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, to go along with nine rebounds.
Keyarah Berry also hauled in 10 rebounds to go along with six points.
FIRST HALF
With a slow start from both sides of the court, Harden opened the Owls' scoring with a layup 1:22 into the game. The Owls would go on a 11-0 run in the first quarter capped by a pair of free throws from Hooks that extended the lead to 11-2. The two teams would trade the final few baskets of the first quarter and KSU led 15-9 at the end of the first.
The second quarter saw the teams trade blows, combining to make just nine field goals as they battled it out. Harden scored six points and the Owls were 4-of-5 from the free-throw line, giving KSU 25-21 lead at the break.
SECOND HALF
The Owls and Aggies traded buckets early in the third with the Aggies (10-9, 3-3 CUSA) tying the game at 27 at the 7:55 mark. Harden and Hooks combined to score 18 of the Owls' 20 third-quarter points. Hooks knocked down two three-pointers late in the third period.
NMSU would go on a 5-0 run over the final 54 seconds to tie the game at 45 entering the final frame.
Both teams traded buckets throughout the first five minutes of the fourth quarter.
Lee Lee Willis's basket with just over five minutes remaining gave the Owls a little bit of breathing room with a seven-point lead.
But the Aggies would not go down without a fight, tying the game three separate times.
With just one minute to go, Griffin gave KSU a 66-64 lead on a momentum-swinging And-1 layup. But the Aggies would fight to respond, tying the game with a layup of their own with 53 seconds on the clock.
Clutch free throws from Harden (with 45 seconds left) and Hooks (with 12 seconds left) secured the 68-66 victory for Kennesaw State.
GAME NOTES
- This is the first Conference USA victory for the Kennesaw State women's basketball team at home.
- Harden earned her 11th double-double on the season, which leads CUSA and is top-10 in the nation. It was her 22nd career double-double, which puts her at fourth all-time in KSU DI history.
- Hooks moved into sixth all-time in career assists in KSU's DI era with 194.
- Three different Owls ended the game with double-digit points.
- There were nine lead changes throughout the game and KSU led for 33:09 of game action.
- The Owls held the Aggies to an icy 5-of-21 from beyond the arc (23.8 percent). The Owls entered the game 10th in NCAA in three-point defense, holding teams to 24.7 percent from downtown per game.
UP NEXT
The Owls are back inside the KSU Convocation Center on Saturday, Jan. 25 vs. UTEP at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets
HERE!
MULTIMEDIA
Coach Blue Postgame Press Conference
Student-Athletes Postgame Press Conference (Prencis Harden, Carly Hooks)
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