The Kennesaw State women’s basketball team returned from a three-game road trip to host two games, falling to Jacksonville University 93-83 Saturday, Jan. 25, before beating North Alabama 59-56 on Monday.
In what was the highest-scoring game of the season against a conference opponent for the Owls, four players scored in double figures. Junior forward Alexis Poole led the team with 25 points, eight rebounds and two assists, despite playing just 21 minutes in the game after getting in foul trouble early.
“Alexis Poole was unstoppable on the offensive end,” head coach Agnus Berenato said. “We just didn’t get Poole the ball enough, but she was unstoppable.”
Both teams began the game with poor defensive execution. The Owls and Dolphins traded baskets throughout the quarter, as neither defense could make a stop to establish a lead. Freshman guard Gillian Piccolino led KSU in the first quarter with 12 points. The Owls held a 29-25 lead as the quarter concluded.
The second quarter also featured an abundance of scores from each team. Senior forward Carlotta Gianolla converted consecutive shots in the first two minutes of the quarter, which gave KSU a 33-26 lead. The Dolphins responded to take the lead and entered halftime at 51-46.
Poole was responsible for KSU’s final six points of the half. The Owls shot the ball with high efficiency in the first half, making 66 percent of its field goal attempts and 80 percent from the free throw line.
Scoring remained abundant in the second half, with both teams mounting scoring runs during the third quarter. JU began the half on a roll offensively, scoring 11 unanswered points to extend its lead to 62-49.
With under five minutes left in the third quarter, KSU regained its momentum behind the dominant play by Poole. She scored nine consecutive points to close the quarter, bringing deficit within eight points.
KSU began the fourth quarter trailing 72-64 and fought to erase the JU lead throughout the quarter but it ultimately fell short. The KSU comeback was hindered with under three minutes left in the game after Poole fouled out.
Piccolino finished with 14 points, while two other KSU players totaled over 10 points in the contest. Sophomore guard Amani Johnson scored 18 points, while Gianolla added 17.
“It was really good to see four players finish in double figures,” Berenato said. “It was good to see Gillian come out and make some shots. I thought Amani had great poise in the game.”
The Owls bounced back two nights later, scoring the final six points of the games to come from behind against the Lions. Poole showed her prowess yet again, scoring 19 points and picking up 10 rebounds to earn her seventh double-double of the season.
Johnson and junior guard Breanna Hoover also scored in double-digit figures to help KSU secure its ninth win of the season — matching its win total from last season. Hoover hit the game-tying three-point shot with just over a minute left in the game.
Down eight points at halftime, the Owls made its way back into the game through the consistency of Johnson and Poole. The KSU defense helped out with the rally by holding UNA to just seven points in the third quarter.
After the tying shot by Hoover, Poole scored a go-ahead layup with just 14 seconds remaining after picking up an offensive rebound. The Lions proceeded to miss a chance to tie the game and could not overcome the KSU rally, ending the game 59-56.
Up next, the Owls will travel to play North Florida Saturday, Feb. 1, at 1 p.m.
