As head coach Octavia Blue enters her fourth year at Kennesaw State, Owls’ women’s hoops will lean on returners to find footing in their Conference USA debut.
In 2023-24, the Owls posted an 11-19 overall record and a 7-9 ASUN record in their final year as a conference member. Prencis Harden had a breakout junior season, averaging 14.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game to lead the Owls in both categories. Blue said she expects Harden could take another step forward in 2024-25.
“I think she’s got to prove herself (in CUSA),” Blue said. “I think she’s one of the top 20 players in this league, and its up to her to show up every night and prove that to everyone.”
Beyond Harden, the Owls return all of last season’s six leading scorers. Carly Hooks returns as a fifth-year senior after averaging 12 points and four rebounds per contest last year. Keyarah Berry also returns after finishing third on the team in scoring at 8.2 points per game.
Lee Lee Willis and Morgan Dillard return as upperclassman as well, and are expected to add depth to the rotation after combining for 10.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season.
The younger returners include sophomore Trynce Taylor, who finished second on the team with 5.0 rebounds per game and Sophia Rueppell, who as a freshman became a regular in the rotation and finished second on the team in three pointers attempted per game at 2.7.
“I think (continuity) is huge,” Blue said. “It’s not trying to juggle and wait a few months for newcomers to kind of understand your philosophy, your coaching style, what it is that you want. I think players know a little bit more and I think you’ll see it when you watch us play.”
Several new faces joined in the offseason from all sorts of places. Keiara Griffin and and Kiona Gaines bring high-level playing experience from Jacksonville State and Auburn respectively. Two other new transfers expected to contribute are Gabriela Bendeck-Giron from Pensacola State and Claire Davis from Palm Beach Atlantic. Rounding out the newcomers is Mame Kane, a freshman from Dakar, Senegal.
Blue said it was essential to keep adding talent and size in order to adapt to CUSA play.
“We had to continue to get talented players for one, because there is a ton in this league, ” Blue said. “And then secondly, size. I think when I first got here our average size for our guards were about five-eight and a half to about five-nine, and now we got five-eleven, six-foot guards.”
The Owls tip-off their season at the Convocation Center against Life University on Nov. 4, at 7:00p.m.
