The KSU women’s basketball team fell just short to Atlantic Sun rival North Florida on Saturday. After failing to tie the game with a buzzer-beating 3-point attempt, the Owls fell to the Ospreys by a score of 52-49.
One week after losing to rival Mercer at home, the Owls took to the road against the Ospreys looking to claim their first conference win. Their attempt was just short, as Ashley Holliday tried to ice the KSU comeback with an unsuccessful 3-point attempt.
After trailing the Ospreys early, the Owls were able to chip away at a 19-point deficit before bringing the game within their grasp just seconds before time expired.
“We have to do a better job starting games,” said Kennesaw State head coach Nitra Perry. “The first four minutes in the last couple of games have really sunk us early. We gave them too many threes and too many shots in the first five minutes. We fought to get back in it but we never really recovered.”
With the loss, the Owls overall record dropped to 4-12, and 0-4 in conference play.
North Florida never lost the lead, as it jumped out to a 19-point lead early. A 9-0 run by the Owls brought KSU within 11, after Holliday sunk a three. With back-to-back field goals from Kristina Wells, the Owls dwindled the Osprey lead down to just seven to end the half, 35-28.
At the start of the second half, North Florida extended its lead by 14, but Wells and Sametria Gideon both contributed six points, and cut the lead back to eight. North Florida responded with a three to go up by 11. After back-to-back jumpers by Wells, Holliday drilled her third three-pointer of the ball game, bringing the Owls within five, 52-47, with 2:08 to go.
Stealing the ball on the Osprey’s next possession, Holliday found Gideon, who drained the jumper to bring the Owls within three. With just 10 seconds left on the clock, Holliday found herself open beyond the arc, missing on the final shot of the game.
Wells finished the game with 20 points, her second 20-point game of the season. Gideon recorded her third consecutive double-double, notching 11 points and 10 rebounds. Wells also finished with a 56 shooting percentage.
“Wells did a heck of a job tonight,” added Perry of her sophomore guard. “She got to the basket and did everything I asked her to do. We’re just going to lick our wounds today and comeback out ready to go on Monday.”
The Owls will remain in Jacksonville, Fla. for a Monday night contest against Jacksonville University.
