Kennesaw State women’s basketball huddled during a timeout during an early-season game at VyStar Arena. Photo by Jackson Louneounbonh
Women’s basketball’s lackluster start to conference play continued when they returned to VyStar Arena to face Jacksonville State on Saturday, losing 74-47.
“This was a loss of just not showing up to play the way we know how,” coach Octavia Blue said. “Our energy was low from jump and although we had a spurt or two, we just never got to full form in terms of what we expect of our ball club.”
The Gamecocks came out firing, shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range and putting the Owls in an early 25-16 hole at the end of the first period. Jax State finished the game with 14 made threes while shooting 50% from beyond the arc.
“A three-point basket is like a slam dunk in a women’s game,” Blue said. “So, when you have a team constantly knocking down threes, it’s definitely deflating. However, we’ve got to be able to bounce back from that and correct it from a defensive standpoint.”
The Gamecocks stretched their lead further in the second quarter, starting the period with a 7-2 run and holding Kennesaw State to just six points of offense, taking a 37-22 lead to the locker room.
“I think they just turned it up and they were playing at a speed or two quicker than us (on defense),” Blue said. “I think we were a little lethargic. They were out hustling us on our home floor. And I just think for them to get on a bus and drive nearly two hours and outperform us in terms of an energy standpoint is unacceptable.”
The second half was in many ways the same story as the first. Jax State won the half 37-25 and managed to extend their already sizeable advantage.
Gamecocks forward Mya Barnes led her team in scoring, contributing 18 points to go along with nine rebounds. Guard Makala Hobdy had a standout performance as well, scoring 15 points and going a perfect three for three from beyond the arc.
Despite the loss, Shania Nichols and Latazia Williamson had solid games individually, the only two Owls to hit double figures on Saturday.
Nichols, now averaging 9.9 points a game, continued her success from the last game on the road at FIU where she scored 13 by scoring 10 more against the Jax State.
Williamson was the team’s leading scorer in Saturday’s contest, scoring 11 points in one of her most impressive games this season.
With Saturday’s loss, KSU is now on a three-game losing streak and falls 1-4 in conference play.
The Owls will continue their homestand and look to get back in the win column next week, taking on UTEP on Thursday and New Mexico State on Saturday.
