North Alabama hands KSU women overtime setback
Jan. 27—KENNESAW — North Alabama used a 15-0 fourth-quarter run to get the game to overtime, then found a way to hold off Kennesaw State in the extra period to post a 69-66 victory at the KSU Convocation Center on Thursday.
The loss was costly as it kept the Owls (9-10, 5-3 ASUN Conference) from getting over .500 for the first time this season. It dropped them out of a fourth-place tie in the conference and into a fifth-place tie with Eastern Kentucky.
Kennesaw State led 55-45 with 7:59 to play when North Alabama (8-11, 3 -5) began its big run, which featured four points each from Skyler Gill and Rhema Pegues. The Owls, however, closed the game on a 7-2 run over the last 1:22 to tie the game.
Carly Hooks' layup ended North Alabama's scoring run, while a 3-pointer from Amani Johnson — who had a team-high 17 points — and a steal and a layup by Stacie Jones forced overtime.
Pegues, who had a game-high 18 points, gave the Lions the lead in overtime, and they did not trail again. Gill, who finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, made a layup and a free throw for a 67-64 lead.
A jumper by Hooks brought Kennesaw State back within one, but Gill's jumper with 10 seconds to play put the game away.
It was a game the Owls seemed to have in complete control early. They had a 16-point lead midway through the second quarter and dominated the glass in the first half, outrebounding the Lions 26-8 overall and 13-3 on the offensive end, which led to a 38-26 lead at the half.
Hooks' jumper with 8:04 to play in the third quarter gave Kennesaw State a 12-point lead, but North Alabama began to chip away at the deficit. A layup by Emma Kate Tittle cut the Owls' lead to three at 42-39, but Kennesaw State answered with eight straight points to push the advantage back to double-digits before settling for a 49-41 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
Jade Moore finished with 17 points and Sara Wohlgemuth added 10 for North Alabama.
Kennesaw State was held to 27% shooting (13-of-47) through the second half and overtime. Jah'Che Whitfield finished with 11 points and Jones added 10.
