by KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State set the tone from tip-off to the final buzzer, as the Owls led from start to finish in a 55–41 victory over USC Upstate in VyStar Arena on Friday night. The Owls moved to 4-2 on the year with their second straight win on their home court.
OWL OF THE GAME
Shania Nicols made her mark on the court as she led all players with her second 20+ point game of the season. She finished with 20 points on 6-of-7 shooting, 5-of-6 from three-point range.
STAT OF THE GAME
The Owls shot a season-high 92.3% at the free throw line, hitting 12-of-13, including a 9-of-9 performance in the second half.
THE FIRST HALF
Kaelyn Flowers and Trynce Traylor were the first to put points on the board for the Owls helping them out to a quick 4-0 lead. The Owls continued to make statement plays in the quarter, leading by as much as 10 before the Spartans closed it to within three at the end of the first 10 minutes. In the second quarter, the Owls showed up defensively, as they allowed just eight total points and opened up a 29-17 lead on a Keyarah Berry.
THE SECOND HALF
UpState made its last run in the third quarter, twice closing within four points, the last at the end of the third to make it a 37-33 contest. The Owls then essentialy put the game away in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, allowing just one single Spartan basket. KSU’s 10-2 run over the first four minutes of the final quarter put the home team 47-35. The Spartans did score six unanswered to close within six, but the Owls countered by scoring the final eight points of the game, all at the free throw line, to close out the 14-point win.
