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KENNESAW, Ga. — Kaelyn Flowers and Gabriela Bendeck-Giron each recorded career-high scoring performances as Kennesaw State women's basketball (5-3) rolled to an 81-37 win over Thomas on Saturday afternoon at Vystar Arena.

Flowers' 14 points came on 4-of-7 shooting with four assists while Bendeck-Giron's drained four 3-pointers for 15 points on 5-of-7 from the field. Keyarah Berry gave KSU a third double-figure scorer with 12 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals. Emaya Lewis and Marihya Hart added eight points apiece as well.

First Half
Berry wasted no time making her presence felt as she scored the game's first eight points with a pair of 3-pointers and a driving lay-in. Thomas responded with an 8-1 run before TaTianna Stovall picked off a pass and sprinted to the basket for the fastbreak score. Flowers drained a triple and added a pair of free throws to help the Owls finish the quarter with an 18-11 lead.  

KSU's offense found a new gear in the second quarter with eight baskets made on 17 attempts as the outscored the Night Hawks 21-4.
Hart nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to open the period. Flowers scored seven of the Owls' next nine with a triple, two free throws and transition lay-in off a behind-the-back pass from Trynce Taylor. Madyson Elliott and Taylor added two more buckets as KSU rolled up a 16-0 run over four-and-half minutes of play.

Hart put an exclamation point on the half with a driving score in the closing seconds. KSU's 18-2 run over the final 5:32 put it up 39-15 at the break.
Flowers led all Owls at the break with 12 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

Second Half
KSU extended its lead to 30 points with consecutive steals-turned fastbreak buckets. Stovall pilfered a Thomas pass and moved the ball ahead to Berry for the lay-in. Moments later Flowers notched a steal with Bendeck-Giron finishing on the other end.

The 50-20 Owl lead grew to 33 with Bendeck-Giron, Mame Kane, Elliott and Stovall each scoring in the paint. Stovall followed up her bucket with a block and board on the ensuing defensive possession as KSU took a commanding 60-27 lead into the fourth.

Bendeck-Giron and Lewis took over in the final period as the two combined for 16 of the Owls' last 21 points. After a free throw make to begin the quarter, Bendeck-Giron tacked on three more triples down the stretch on her way to a career-high 15 points. Lewis put up six of her eight points on three consecutive possessions with a jumper and two scores at the rim.
 
Each of the Owls' 11 players who saw the floor found their way onto the scoreboard with KSU's bench outscoring the Night Hawks' 42-12. 
KSU out shot Thomas 48 to 26% from the field and recorded a season-high 11 3-point makes while holding the Night Hawks to 0-of-12 from beyond the arc. The Owls more than doubled up Thomas in rebounding 49-23 and limited the visitors to just four assists with 21 turnovers.  

Game Notes
- Each of the Owls' 11 players who saw the floor found their way onto the scoreboard with KSU's bench outscoring the Night Hawks' 42-12. 
- KSU out shot Thomas 48 to 26% from the field and recorded a season-high 11 3-point makes while holding the Night Hawks to 0-of-12 from beyond the arc.
- The Owls more than doubled up Thomas in rebounding 49-23 and limited the visitors to just four assists with 21 turnovers.  

Head Coach Octavia Blue Postgame:
"I'm really happy with our bench. We had 42 bench points today. Everyone had a chance to touch the floor. If we want to be a good team going down the road, we have to be able to use our bench and have some depth."

Next Time Out
KSU retakes the floor at Georgia State in Atlanta on Dec. 14 at 12 p.m. Watch the Owls face the Panthers on ESPN+.

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.