Kennesaw, Ga. - The Stetson women's basketball team (12-3, 3-0 Atlantic Sun) shook off two weeks of rust and a determined Kennesaw State squad (6-8, 1-2 A-Sun) to claim a 65-55 win over the Lady Owls on Monday at the KSU Convocation Center. The Hatters finished the game on a 10-0 run in the final 3:30.
In a game with 13 ties and eight lead changes, Stetson freshman guard Clarissa Coddington (Davie, Fla.) drilled a three-pointer with 3:55 left to put the Hatters up 55-52 at the last media timeout. When KSU's Taylor Mills answered with a three from the right corner out of the break to tie it up, it seemed the two teams would continue in similar deadlocked fashion the rest of the way home.
However, after a Kennesaw State foul led to two free throws by sophomore forward Sasha Sims (Fayetteville, Ga.) and a two-point lead, the Hatters got two defensive stops, including a key sequence at the two-minute mark when freshman forward Cherisse Burris (Blue Springs, Mo.) forced a steal and finished a fast break layup. That bucket gave Stetson its first two-possession lead since late in the first half and allowed the Hatters all-important breathing room. Another Burris layup and four free throws later, Stetson walked off with a 10-point win that was consistently contested closer than the final score indicated.
"We hit more shots and controlled the glass much better in the second half, which helped our temp," Stetson head coach Lynn Bria said afterwards. "In the first half we didn't do much of anything right, honestly. Kennesaw State really tested us the whole way - they're going to be one of the best teams in this league."
Bria added, "Cherisse Burris really gave us a lift at the end with her energy and athleticism; she made huge plays after getting limited first half minutes with foul trouble."
Stetson (which was in action for the first time since beating Florida Atlantic on December 21) made zero second half turnovers after giving the ball away 15 times in the first half; the Hatters trailed 27-25 at the break as the Owls finished the period on a 7-0 run. The largest Stetson lead of the first half was six points.
Junior guard Victoria McGowan (Inkster, Mich.) notched 14 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals to lead the Hatters in all four categories; Sims chipped in 12 points and two blocks while Burris gave Stetson 13 points, a season high-tying seven rebounds and two blocks.
Kristina Wells paced Kennesaw State with 13 points and seven rebounds while Chelcey Farrar notched 12 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Sametria Gideon narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and nine boards.
The Hatters will attempt to tie the longest winning streak in program history (seven games) when they tip off Wednesday at 5:00 pm at A-Sun rival Mercer. Live Stats links and Hatter Vision's simulcast of Mercer's ASun.TV broadcast will be available at GoHatters.com.
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