Freshman guard Deandrea Sawyers is currently the No. 2 scorer on KSU’s women’s basketball team, averaging 13.3 points, and 2.5 three pointers per game. The freshman from Nashville, Tennessee has been an integral member of the team, continuing her success from when she was a well regarded high school athlete. She’s steadily improved throughout the season, to the point now where she’s now consistently one of the most valuable players for the Owls.
Sawyers has been on fire recently, collecting seven three pointers in wins against both North Florida and Lipscomb, and contributing an additional four from behind the arc Saturday against Northern Kentucky in what turned out to be a losing effort. “It’s nice to be hot,” Sawyers said. “My coaches tell me to shoot the open shot, and I’m glad my teammates have the confidence in me that I’ll make the shots”. Head coach Nitra Perry added, “She is beginning to talk a lot more on the court when she is open, allowing her teammates to find her.”
Being one of the leading scorers is a nice accomplishment, of which Sawyers is proud, but she is not content with her current performance, and feels like there is still much improvement that she can do in order to become a more complete player. “I need to keep working hard and do whatever my coaches ask me to do,” Sawyers said. This includes being more open to adjustments that her teammates and the coaches need her to do. Coach Perry is excited about Deandrea’s drive to become a better player. “She’s one of the hardest, most consistent workers on the team. I think she embodies what we want our Kennesaw State basketball athletes to be, by doing an awesome job on the court, in the classroom, and in the community.”
According to Deandra, redshirt senior Lisa Capellan has helped the most with her transition to the expectations and routine of a college athlete. Sawyers has enjoyed being a college athlete, even despite the hard practices and classes. “I’ve got to keep working, it will get easier as I continue. I don’t regret any part of my experience here,” she said. She credits her teammates and coaches for helping to make the transition as smooth as possible for her.
Sawyers has connected on a three point shot in each of her last six games, and in 10 of 15 games overall this season. She has been the team’s most prolific shot taker, and with her recent progress, is likely to become the leading scorer for the Owls this season.
The Owls play Thursday, when Florida Gulf Coast comes to the Convocation center, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
