Feb. 2, 2008

Box Score

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- After rallying from a double-digit deficit in the first half to take a seven-point lead at the break, the Lady Owls saw host East Tennessee State shoot 70 percent from the field in the second half to defeat Kennesaw State 81-77 on Saturday afternoon in an Atlantic Sun Conference game.

Jennifer Baker scored 20 points and collected nine rebounds, including eight on the offensive end, to lead the charge for the Lady Owls. Britteny Henderson scored 18 points, while Greteya Kelley chipped in 17 for the visiting team.

The Lady Owls (10-10, 5-3 A-Sun) trailed 23-13 before a 14-0 run over three and a half minutes of the first half put the Black and Gold ahead, 27-23, with 6:27 remaining in the period.

With down a point with four minutes remaining, the Owls scored 12 of the final 16 points to take a 41-34 lead into the locker room. The momentum was on the side of Kennesaw State, but the home team would not be denied. A 12-2 run by ETSU (11-10, 7-1) midway through the second half but the Bucs ahead 54-50.

KSU took its last lead of the game with 9:14 remaning on a three-pointer by DeAndrea Bullock, making the score 57-56. ETSU would recapture the lead, expanding it to as many as eight points.

Down seven with the clock ticking under 30 seconds, Henderson was fouled and made the first free throw. The second free throw was no good, but Baker swooped in for her eighth offensive rebound of the game. After a feed from Bullock, Baker drained a three-pointer to make the score 80-77 with 15 seconds to go.

But the Lady Owls could get no closer. Siarre Evans made a free throw with 11 seconds left, and KSU was unable to score in its final possession.

The Bucs shot 19-of-27 from the field in the second half for a 70.4 field goal percentage. Evans led ETSU with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lady Owls will be back in action on Monday when they travel to face USC Spartanburg. Game time is slated for 7:00 p.m.