By: Joseph Hovey
Delaware (10-11, 4-5 CUSA) at Kennesaw State (10-10, 3-6 CUSA)
Kennesaw, GA | VyStar Arena | Thursday, Feb. 5 | 7 p.m. EST
KENNESAW, Ga. — Kennesaw State women's basketball returns home Thursday to face Delaware in the first all-time meeting between the Owls and Fightin' Blue Hens.
Fans are encouraged to join in the Gold Rush game by wearing their KSU gold on Thursday.
STANDINGS STATUS
After facing two of Conference USA's top three teams on the road a week ago, ninth-place KSU is back at VyStar Arena with an opportunity to knock off both teams sitting in front of it in the league standings. Delaware (10-11, 4-5) stands at eighth while Saturday's opponent, Liberty (10-10, 4-5), sits at seventh.
The Blue Hens were picked 11
th in CUSA's preseason poll. UD opened conference play with four-straight losses but has since won four of its last five.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Latazia Williamson's rim protection abilities were on full display in games at LA Tech and Sam Houston on Jan. 29 and 31. Williamson tied a career high with four blocks against the Lady Techsters, then turned around and recorded five at Sam Houston. Williamson's nine blocks led all CUSA players in games last week. KSU is the only team in the conference with individuals recording four or more blocks in four different games this season.
TaTianna Stovall has tallied games of five and six blocks. Stovall's six at Georgia State on Dec. 14 remains the highest of any CUSA player in a game this season. Two more blocks are all that remain between Stovall and ninth at KSU in Division I-era (2005-pres.) single-season swats. The Owls are tied with WKU for the league lead in blocks per game at 4.1.
KSU's offensive presence in the paint is also crucial to its success. At +122 in paint scoring on the season, the Owls are 10-3 when outscoring opponents in the paint and 0-7 when even or outscored down low.
SHARING IS CARING
KSU has three proven distributors in its rotation in guards
Kailyn Fields,
Shania Nichols and
Kaelyn Flowers. The three have combined to record 14 games with five or more assists. Both Fields and Nichols tallied six at Sam Houston. Nichols' six tied a career high. Fields has delivered five or more assists seven times this season and ranks third in CUSA at 4.3 per game. The Owls' team total 12.9 helpers per game ranks fourth in the league.
BERRY BALLIN'
Keyarah Berry scored 10 points in both road games a week ago for 46 career games in doubles figures and a career-best 17 this season. With 10 against the Bearkats on Saturday, Berry moved into eighth at KSU in DI-era scoring at 972 points, just 28 shy of the 1000 mark. Seven free throws and two steals are all that stand between Berry and climbing to sixth and 10
th, in the era's career free throw and steal standings, respectively. Berry's 112 field goals rank second in CUSA this season while her 47.7% from the field stands at third.
STAT SUPERLATIVES
Despite dropping both games a week ago, KSU continues to rank second in CUSA in field goal (43.9) and 3-point (33.7) percentages. Defensively, the Owls lead the league in opponent field goal percentage at 38.4 while ranking fourth in steals (9.8) and turnovers forced per game (20). Though Sam Houston went on to defeat KSU on Saturday, the Owls held the Bearkats to 28.8% from the field, well below their average 39.4.
CLOSE CONTESTS
Saturday's 62-57 loss to the Bearkats dropped KSU to 3-3 this season in games decided by single digits. The Owls cut Sam Houston's lead to one possession before enduring a field goal drought of nearly four-and-a-half minutes. In KSU's three single-digit losses, it has struggled to get up shot attempts, experiencing scoring droughts of at least 1-minute and 20-seconds over each game's final five minutes. In the Owls' three single-digit wins, they have recorded at least one field goal or attempted a minimum of four free throws in the final 5:19 on the clock.
KNOW THE FOE
UD, formerly of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA), is in its inaugural CUSA season. Fourth-year head coach Sarah Jenkins leads a team featuring three double-figure scorers in center Ande'a Cherisier (12.8) as well as guards Kailah Correa (11.8) and Safi Kolliegbo (10.3).
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.
