DeLand, Fla. ? Senior point guard Sharnesha Smith (Kingsland, Ga.) became the 17th player in program history to score 1,000 career points and sophomore guard Tierra Brown (Orlando, Fla.) tied her career high with 22 points, but it wasn't enough as the Stetson women's basketball team (8-18, 5-12 Atlantic Sun) fell 64-51 to Kennesaw State on Senior Day at the Edmunds Center.
The Lady Owls (12-12, 9-7 A-Sun) used a massive 55-33 rebounding edge and six blocked shots to lead for the last 38:30 of the game. Kennesaw State crashed the offensive glass particularly effectively to the tune of 25 offensive rebounds. Stetson had just 20 defensive rebounds. Montinique Nixon led KSU to the win with 16 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks. Jennifer Baker added 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Smith, who came into the day needing just five points to join the 1,000 Point Club, reached the milestone with 16:14 left in the second half, prompting a brief stoppage of the game to celebrate the achievement in this her final game at the Edmunds Center.
Brown tried her best to lead the Hatters to a comeback, scoring 20 of her 22 points in the second half to lead all scorers, but it was just not enough as Stetson fell for the ninth time in the last 10 games. Today's game marked the second consecutive year in which Brown scored exactly 22 points against Kennesaw State at the Edmunds Center and her third career 22-point performance. Brown added five rebounds, five steals, two assists and a block to her terrific output.
Smith and junior forward Ashli Jackson (Opelika, Ala.) finished with eight points each; Smith also ripped off four steals and handed out two assists; she needs just 10 more to become the third player in program history with 1,000 career points and 400 career assists. A pre-game Senior Day ceremony honored Smith, center Ayesha Barkley (East Orange, N.J.) and forward Shayna Swinson (Atlanta, Ga.) for their contributions to Hatter Women's Basketball over the past four seasons.
The Hatters play their final three regular season games on the road, starting Thursday evening at 7 p.m. at A-Sun rival Jacksonville. A-Sun.TV will be available for the contest; Hatter Vision will simulcast it; the webcast and Bill Topping's audio commentary can be found at www.GoHatters.com, the official online home of Stetson Athletics.
