The Owls came up short in their first of two games inside the perimeter.
Women’s basketball fell to 1-2 on the season with a loss to in-state rival Georgia State 62-52 on Tuesday, Nov. 14 in Atlanta.
The Owls could not maintain a lead in their first mid-major test against the Georgia State Panthers in a game that was competitive for all four quarters. The two schools have met 12 times previously, with GSU leading the all-time series 9-3.
The first quarter was back and forth, while both teams struggled to shoot. The Owls shot just 30% from the field, while the Panthers converted 35% of their attempts. The score at the period would be a 14-13 edge for the Panthers.
The offense picked up in the second quarter for the Owls, shooting 50% from the field and 33% from three. The Panthers, however, turned it up on offense even more. GSU caught fire, shooting 57% from the floor and 75% from deep to take a 35-28 lead to the break.
In the third, KSU would fight back with their best defensive quarter of the night. The Owls outscored the Panthers 15-13 while shooting at a 42% mark and hitting both of their three-point attempts. The Panthers went cold from beyond the arc, going 0-5, and just 35% from the field.
Headed into the final period, the Owls trailed 48-43. The Panthers would outscore the Owls 14-9 in the fourth quarter to bring the game to a 62-52 final score.
It was a rough offensive night that would kill the Owls in the long run. The Owls left 10 points on the board at the line, only making 7-17 foul shots. A decent 38.5% mark from three was enough to keep the Owls’ offense afloat for a while but was not enough down the stretch.
Keyarah Berry led the way for the Owls, scoring 16 points that included 3 three-point shots. Carly Hooks struggled to shoot but had a solid night on both ends of the floor, with 11 points and an impressive 4 steals.
The Owls could not slow down the Panthers’ Mya Williams and Crystal Henderson. The two combined for 31 points, as much as the rest of the team combined. Alyssa Phillips struggled offensively but made her presence felt on the boards with 9 rebounds.
The Owls fall to 1-2 early into the 2023-2024 season, while the Panthers improve to 3-0.
