KENNESAW, Ga. —
Keyarah Berry scored a career-high 31 points, and
Trynce Taylor added a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds as Kennesaw State women's basketball defeated New Mexico State 70-55 on Saturday afternoon at VyStar Arena.
First Half
KSU used an 8-0 run to break out to a 14-4 lead midway through the first quarter.
Kailyn Fields and
Kaelyn Flowers drained jumpers to spark the run while
TaTianna Stovall and
Latazia Williamson sealed it with a block-turned-transition bucket.
The Owls' defense fed the run with five forced turnovers over a 4:30 stretch.
Shania Nichols tacked on another takeaway moments later and found Berry in transition to help KSU lead 21-6 by quarter's end. KSU shot 47% from the field in the first quarter while allowing just 16% from the Aggies.
NM State's defense clamped down in the second quarter and disrupted the flow of the Owl offense with five forced turnovers. KSU overcame the offensive lapse with some steals of its own as Berry recorded takeaways on back-to-back Aggie possessions. Nichols drained four free throws late in the quarter to secure a 35-22 halftime lead for the Owls.
Berry led KSU with 12 points at the half. The Owls generated 18 first-half points off 13 NM State turnovers and went to the break shooting 44% from the field while holding the Aggies to 26%.
Second Half
KSU turned a 9-0 run into a 19-point lead at 45-26 five minutes into the second half. Berry scored seven of the nine points with three free throws as well as a score at the rim.
The Aggies battled back with a 14-5 run that sent the Owls into the fourth holding on to a 51-40 lead.
Berry and Taylor answered the call to secure the win in the fourth quarter. The duo combined to score 16 of KSU's final 19 points with Berry recording 10 on 4-of-5 shooting and Taylor adding six points, five rebounds and two steals.
Berry pushed the Owl lead back to 15 with a corner 3-pointer and a driving lay-in on consecutive possessions. Moments later, with KSU's offense cooling, Berry sparked momentum anew with a charge drawn on the defensive end. The Owls put the game away late with six more Aggie turnovers forced over the game's closing six minutes.
KSU finished the day shooting 43% from the field while holding NM State to 32%. While outrebounded 42-39, the Owls edged the Aggies in points in the paint (34-30) and dominated the fastbreak 20-8. KSU also made the most of 25 forced NM State turnovers with 33 points to show for it.
Game Notes
- Berry's career-high 31 points came on 11-of-14 shooting from the field and 8-of-16 from the free throw line. Nineteen of Berry's 31 came in the second half.
- Berry has now scored a career high in two of KSU's last four games, with her previous high of 27 coming at FIU on Jan. 10.
- Berry is the fifth CUSA player this season to cross the 30-point threshold in a game. Thirty-one points is tied for the third-most scored by an individual in the league this season.
- With eight today, Berry surpassed Carlotta Gianolla (2016-20) for seventh at KSU in Division I-era (2005-pres.) career free throws made. Berry also moved into the top 10 at KSU in DI-era career games played with her 104th on Saturday.
- Taylor notched her first double-double of the season and third of her career with 12 points and a career-high 15 rebounds to go along with a career-high four steals.
- KSU attempted a season-high 38 free throws.
- The Aggies' six first-quarter points are the fewest allowed by the Owls this season.
- Saturday marked KSU's first time with consecutive double-digit wins since February 25 and March 1, 2023, versus Stetson and Queens, respectively.
Head Coach Octavia Blue Postgame:
"This was a great team win today. We talked about stacking days, meaning putting one foot behind the other and putting together performances night in and night out. I thought we did this today. We had great energy from the start from a defensive perspective. We held them to six points in the first quarter, which allowed us to have a cushion that we maintained throughout the rest of the game. Total team effort today."
On Berry and Taylor's performances
"Special day by
Keyarah Berry and
Trynce Taylor. When we set out for the season, we knew we would look to these two players. We're happy to have them come to form and gel at this point in the season. We look forward to their performances moving forward."
On forcing 25 turnovers
"We want to bring teams in here, and when they park the bus, we want to start pressing: Force turnovers and make them feel uncomfortable. I think the defensive pressure early on contributed to the turnovers and our transition offense. It was important to us to turn them over. It ignites us on the offensive end."
On Berry's success today
"We have a team where any given night, someone can step up. Today was Keyarah's day. She didn't force anything. She did it on the defensive end. When she starts that way, everything else just starts to happen."
On the task ahead with two road games next week
"We have to remember what gives us success here at home and take that on the road. We have to be sharing the ball, communicating on defense, having that same pressure, and our mental toughness has to be at an all-time high. We're playing at someone else's home with someone else's crowd. We can't get rattled. We have to keep each other motivated and positive, no matter what happens."
Guard Keyarah Berry Postgame:
On reaching a career-high 31 points
"It felt amazing. I still have to focus on my free throws, but it was a great accomplishment that my teammates helped me with. They trust me. They trust Coach Blue. We all did a great job today."
On the team's defensive performance
"We saw who had mismatches, and we were in passing lanes. Our defense is what unites us, so that's what we focused on more."
On how the team's relationships allow them to be successful on the court
"Everyone trusts each other. We share the ball. We believe in one another, and we knock down shots."
Next Time Out
KSU leaves the friendly confines of VyStar Arena for a road trip next week with games at Louisiana Tech on Jan. 29 and Sam Houston on Jan. 31. Watch the Owls face the Lady Techsters on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. EST 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.
