By: Joseph Hovey
Kennesaw State (8-5, 1-1 CUSA) at Missouri State (9-5, 1-0 CUSA)
Springfield, MO | Great Southern Bank Arena | Thursday, Jan. 8 | 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT
KENNESAW, Ga. — Kennesaw State women's basketball looks to move to 2-1 in league play as it begins its first Conference USA road trip of the season at Missouri State on Jan. 8.
BOUNCING BACK VS. WKU
After opening CUSA play with a 60-47 loss to Middle Tennessee, the Owls bounced back into the win column with a 78-64 win over WKU on Jan. 4. KSU's 78 points were its most in a CUSA game since February 13, 2025, versus Louisiana Tech. The Owls shot 54.5% from the field, their best since January 27, 2022, against Jacksonville State. KSU also tied a season-best single-half scoring output with 47 points in the second half versus the Lady Toppers.
FIELDS FOR THREE
Kailyn Fields fueled the Owl offense on Sunday with career-highs in points (22), field goals (8) and 3-pointers (6) while tying a career-high six assists. Fields has now led KSU in assists in 20 career games.
JOY IN SHARING THE BALL
Kaelyn Flowers and
Shania Nichols joined Fields with five and six assists, respectively, as the Owls recorded a program Division I-era (2005-pres.) single-game high 25 assists. Sunday marked the second game this season in which head coach
Octavia Blue's squad has notched the most single-game assists in her five-year tenure. Twenty-five assists is also the third-most by a CUSA team in 2025-26.
Four different KSU players have recorded a combined 11 games with five or more assists this season. "As much success and happiness, you may have in scoring the ball yourself, we find joy in providing opportunities for others," Blue said following Sunday's win.
LEADING THE CUSA
The Owls' ball movement mentality has them leading the CUSA in field goal (44.7) and 3-point percentage (36.5). KSU's 3-point efficiency also ranks 31
st nationally. Fields' six triples versus WKU join Nichols' six versus Shorter on Nov. 4 to make the Owls the only CUSA squad with multiple players to knock down six or more threes in a game this season.
BALANCED SCORING
Graduate guard
Keyarah Berry was KSU's lone preseason All-CUSA selection, but the Owls have proven to be much more than a one-woman show with seven different players recording team-high scores in games this season. Five different Owls have recorded outings of 20-plus points.
WINNING THE MIDDLE 20
Despite a -10-score differential in the first quarter, KSU bounces back to the tune of a combined +93 in the second and third quarters, including +54 in the second quarter alone. The Owls recorded their second 30-plus point quarter of the season with a 31-19 third quarter versus WKU.
WILLIAMSON AND STOVALL: DOUBLE TROUBLE
Forwards
Latazia Williamson and
TaTianna Stovall each recorded double-doubles for the Owls a week ago. Williamson scored 10 points and hauled in 11 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass against the Lady Toppers. Stovall recorded her first career 20-point game with 20 and 12 boards versus Life on Dec. 29.
Williamson, Stovell and fellow forward
Trynce Taylor have combined to help KSU dominate down low for a +126 paint scoring differential on the season.
KNOW THE FOE
Thursday marks the first all-time meeting between Kennesaw State and Missouri State. The Lady Bears, formerly of the Missouri Valley Conference, are in their first CUSA season and opened it with an 80-69 win at FIU on Jan. 4. At 9-5, Missouri State's wins include Saint Louis and Tulane while it's also been tested with losses to Florida State, Arkansas and an overtime heart breaker versus Kansas.
Head coach Beth Cunningham is in her fourth season at the helm of the Lady Bears. Cunningham's squad was picked fourth in the CUSA preseason poll and is led by the league's third-leading scorer with 17 points per game from guard Kaemyn Bekemeier.
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.
