Short-handed KSU women fall at Queens
Feb. 3—Queens connected on four free throws in the final 13 seconds to hold off a Kennesaw State comeback for a 79-75 victory in ASUN Conference play Thursday in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The loss was the Owls' third in a row as they fell to 9-12 overall and 5-5 in conference play. It also spoiled career-high performances by Jah'Che Whitfield, who finished with 27 points and seven rebounds, and Prencis Harden, who had 16 points and nine rebounds.
"We were short-handed tonight and obviously missed several players," Kennesaw State coach Octavia Blue said in the release, as the Owls suited up eight players. "I thought we gave our best effort that we could. We had a lot of kids playing out of position, and not to make excuses, but I thought everybody banded together and played hard. That was a tough, hard-nosed team on their home floor, and we did the best we could with what we had."
With Kennesaw State within four, Queens (8-13, 3-7) went on an 8-1 run to push its lead to 75-64 with 4:36 left to play. The Owls answered with an 8-0 run of their own, which included a layup and a 3-pointer by Whitfield, to pull within 75-72 with 44 seconds to play.
After a pair of Kasey Kidwell free throws, Kennesaw State's Amani Johnson banked in a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 77-75 with 6 seconds to play, but Kidwell put the game away at the free-throw line.
Kidwell and Adia Brisker each scored 19 points to lead five Queens players in double figures. Kinley Brown finished with 12 points, Jordyn Weaver had 11 points and seven rebounds, and Alexandria Johnson added 10 points.
Stacie Jones finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Owls.
Kennesaw State will remain on the road, traveling to Liberty on Saturday.
