by Mike Foster (Sports Editor)
KSU nearly erased a double-digit halftime deficit against the Atlantic Sun Conference’s first place team on Thursday night, but eventually fell short in a 69-55 loss to Florida Gulf Coast in the Convocation Center.
The win marks the 40th consecutive conference victory for the Eagles, and while the loss did end up to be by more than 10 points, KSU head coach Nitra Perry was satisfied with the effort.
“I was proud of my team for working extremely hard,” Perry said. “I do not think the score was indicative of the effort that we gave tonight.”
KSU (4-12, 2-3 A-Sun) was once again led by its strength at the guard positions. Kristina Wells notched her eighth double-double of the season with 14 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and two steals, while freshman Deandrea Sawyers added 13 points and three assists. Sawyers and Wells combined for 78 minutes of playing time, with Sawyers playing the entire contest.
Florida Gulf Coast entered the game averaging 28 three-point attempts per contest, and hit a respectable number by going 11-for-33 from long range. Perry saw the Owls’ inability to match the Eagles’ long-range shooting as the difference in the game. Sawyers, who had hit 18 threes in her last three games, was just 1-of-6 on Thursday night.
“I thought the difference in the game was three-point made shots,” Perry said. “It hurt us only making three of fifteen.”
KSU trailed 36-24 at the half, but drew the score close twice in the second half at 52-46 and 57-50 with just 4:31 remaining. KSU was closest when a Bria Young three-pointer with 10:47 left in the second half cut the score to 42-40.
FGCU (10-6, 4-0 A-Sun) got double-digit scoring efforts from DyTiesha Dunson (17), Stephanie Haas (16), Srah Hansen (14) and Kaneisha Atwater (11).
Despite the loss, the Owls are still well within the middle of the pack in the A-Sun standings, and will be tested again on Saturday at 2 p.m. In the Conovcation Center against Stetson (11-5, 3-1 A-Sun).
