By: Joseph Hovey
KENNESAW, Ga. — Fresh off an 83-52 win over UTEP on Thursday, Kennesaw State women's basketball looks to notch back-to-back Conference USA wins as it hosts New Mexico State on Jan. 24 at 12 p.m. EST at VyStar Arena.
STANDINGS STATUS
Following Thursday's win over the Miners, KSU is tied for ninth in the CUSA standings with Delaware. NM State is just in front of the Owls in eighth. The Aggies were picked 10
th in the league's preseason poll.
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST
KSU tied a season-high with 32 field goals made on a season-high 69 attempts while scoring its most points against a Division I foe with 83 against UTEP. The 31-point win over the Miners equaled the Owls' largest margin of victory in a conference game since an 81-50 win over Queens on March 2, 2024. Thursday's win also featured KSU's third game with a season-high 47-point half. The Owls rolled late over the Miners with a 47-23 second-half advantage. KSU enters Saturday's game leading CUSA in field goal (44.5) and 3-point percentage (35.8). The Owls' 3-point shooting also ranks 26
th nationally.
OPPORTUNISTIC DEFENSE
With 24 points off 17 UTEP turnovers, KSU notched its second-highest points off turnovers advantage of the season. Three different Owls posted two steals in the game while KSU's defense combined to allow only four Miner assists and shutout the visitors from beyond the arc at 0-for-7. KSU has now held opponents scoreless from 3-point range in three games. The Owls' defense ranks top 5 in the conference in scoring defense (60.8), opponent field goal percentage (39.2), blocks (3.82), steals (9.71) and turnovers forced (19.5).
CRASHING THE GLASS
KSU's 44-29 rebounding advantage on Thursday came against the CUSA's rebounding leaders in UTEP. The Miners also lead the league in offensive boards, but were more than doubled up, 16-7, by the Owls. KSU turned its 44 rebounds into a 17-5 advantage in second chance scoring while also dominating the paint 46-28 against UTEP. Both marks are the second-highest such advantages for the Owls in a game this season. KSU is now +136 in the paint through 17 games.
STARTING AND SUSTAINING STRONG
KSU posted its highest scoring first (24-15) and fourth quarters (25-11) of the season on Thursday. The Owls have won 12-straight home games when leading after the first quarter and are 41-19 under head coach
Octavia Blue with such a lead.
TRYNCE'S RETURN
Trynce Taylor returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Jan. 8 at Missouri State and made the most of it with a season-high 18 points and nine rebounds. Taylor has scored in double figures in seven games this season and ranks top 10 in CUSA in defensive rebounds per game with five.
NICHOLS AND 5-0
Shania Nichols matched Taylor's 18 points versus UTEP with her seventh double-figure performance as well. KSU is 5-0 this season when Nichols leads or co-leads the team in scoring.
STOVALL'S WALL
TaTianna Stovall hauled in 11 rebounds for her second 10-plus board outing in 17 collegiate games. The freshman from Cleveland, Tennessee, ranks second in CUSA in blocks per game and is just five swats from surpassing Sametria Gideon for 10
th at KSU in DI-era (2005-pres.) single-season blocks.
KB's CLIMB
Keyarah Berry's 13 points on Thursday gave her 43 career double-figure scoring games for the Owls. On Saturday, Berry will move into 10
th at KSU in DI-era career games played with her 104th outing, surpassing Gabi Legister (2019-23). Berry is eight free throws made from climbing to seventh in Owl DI-era career free throw makes and six steals from the top 10 of the era's career steals list.
SERIES HISTORY
The Owls and Aggies meet for the third time on Saturday with the series squared 1-1. The two teams split their meetings a season ago, with KSU taking the first at home, 68-66, on January 23, 2025, and the Aggies defending their own home court in Las Cruces, 61-57, on February 22, 2025.
KNOW THE FOE
Fourth-year head coach Jody Adams brings NM State to Kennesaw at 7-12 and 3-4 in CUSA play. The Aggies are coming off a 57-46 loss at Jax State on Jan. 22. Forward Lucia Yenes and guard Imani Warren lead NM State with 14.2 and 12.4 points per game, respectively.
PURCHASE TICKETS
Season and single-game tickets are available for the 2025-26 Kennesaw State women's basketball campaign. Click
here to secure your seat inside VyStar Arena and don't miss a second of the action!
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.
