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KENNESAW, Ga. —
TaTianna Stovall and
Shania Nichols combined for 40 points, with Stovall notching a double-double, as Kennesaw State women's basketball concluded non-conference play with an 86-41 win over Life on Monday night at Vystar Arena.
Now 7-4 on the season, the Owls have achieved their best record in non-conference play in head coach
Octavia Blue's tenure (2021-pres.). It's the program's best since the 2014-15 season.
First Half
KSU used a 7-0 run to break out to a 15-6 lead over the game's opening minutes. Stovall set the tone early for the Owl offense with consecutive scores at the rim to feed the nine-point lead.
Five turnovers brought on a KSU scoring dry spell but the Owls cleaned it up to the tune of a 10-0 run over the final minutes of the first quarter and into the early second.
Keyarah Berry scored four straight points with a driving lay-in and 2-for-2 trip to the free throw line.
Shania Nichols and
Trynce Taylor then added layups to put KSU up 25-10. The Owls turned defense into offense to maintain a 37-20 lead with a Nichols steal converted into a Berry transition bucket on the other end. Stovall took over late in the half as she scored the period's final three field goals on her way to 20 first-half points.
KSU led 46-23 at the break after shooting 52% from the field while just 1-of-4 from 3-point range.
Second Half
The Owls didn't let off the break in the third quarter and continued to coast with Berry weaving through Running Eagle defenders to the tin for two and the quarter's first points. Nichols scored on two straight possessions with a long two and corner three while
Emaya Lewis put up a block and consecutive scores moments later.
KSU wasted no time extending its 63-34 in the early minutes of the fourth as
Kailyn Fields intercepted a Life pass and sprinted to the cup for the score. The Owls finished the game scoring six consecutive field goals from beyond the arc. Nichols drained the first off a Stovall offensive rebound, then followed it up with two more. Gabriela Bendeck Giron and
Kaelyn Flowers combined for the other three triples down the stretch.
Game Notes
- Stovall's first career double-double came as she set career highs in points (20), field goals made (10), rebounds (12) and tied a career high with three steals.
- Nichols' 20 points came on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, 4-of-5 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. The sharpshooter averaged four rebounds and tied a career-high with five assists. Nichols now has three games of 20 or more points this season.
- Keyarah Berry recorded her 10th double-figure scoring game of the season, and 39th of her career, with 12 points on Monday. With four free throws made versus Life, Berry's 177 career KSU free throws surpasses Jasmine McAllister (2014-16) for eighth among Owls in the Division I era (2005-pres.).
- KSU shot 48% from the field and 8-of-15 from distance while holding Life to 28% and 0-of-8.
- The Owls outrebounded the Running Eagles 50-30, including 29-14 on the defensive glass. KSU also held advantages in second-chance points (21-6), fastbreak points (17-0), bench scoring (55-31) and steals (11-3).
- KSU asserted its dominance with a 38-20 scoring advantage in the paint. The Owls now have four games this season with a paint scoring advantage of +15 or better.
- A 29-13 second quarter continued KSU's positive second-period season trend. The Owls are outscoring opponents by a combined 44 points in the second.
Head Coach Octavia Blue Postgame:
On TaTianna Stovall's performance
"She was aggressive today. This is probably the most aggressive we've seen her all season long. We challenged her to get on the offensive glass."
On Shania Nichols' performance:
"She's a dead-eye shooter. We try to put her in spots where she can take the shots. Her teammates do a good job of finding her. We're totally confident that when she catches the ball, it's going in."
On the key to the team's 7-4 start to the season
"We have good locker room leadership.
Latazia Williamson is a great locker room culture kid, so is
Fanta Daffe. You have players in there that drive this culture of competitiveness."
Forward TaTianna Stovall Postgame:
On bouncing back from the loss at Miami on Dec. 21
"I knew coming back from Miami, we needed to have a way better game, especially with conference play coming. We need to show other teams what we can do. I would like to thank my teammates for getting me the ball."
On how her coaches and teammates have helped her grow
"In practice, when I mess up, my coaches get on my but I know it's with love.
Latazia Williamson too. She gets on me but I know she's just trying to make me better."
Next Time Out
The Owls continue their three-game home stand and open Conference USA play versus Middle Tennessee on Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. at Vystar Arena. Watch the Owls take on the Blue Raiders on
ESPN+.
KSU hosts Western Kentucky on Jan. 4 at 2 p.m. and fans are encouraged to attend as Owl Nation celebrates Girl Dads. Sunday's first 400 fans through the door will score an exclusive KSU stein.
Click here for buy-one-get-one tickets.
The Owls Fund
The Owls Fund is the primary fundraising arm of Kennesaw State Athletics with the goal of supporting our student-athletes, coaches and each of our 18 NCAA Division I programs. Through initiatives such as Legacy Lockers, the Dot Martin Scholarship Golf Classic, sport-specific giving opportunities, general donations and season tickets, The Owls Fund connects fans with KSU's programs and student-athletes. Members receive exclusive benefits such as hospitality seating areas and events at Kennesaw State home games, and more. Join The Owls Fund here and discover more opportunities on how you can support Kennesaw State Athletics.
