Brianti Saunders scored 13 points to lead the Hatters (11-7), who improved to 2-2 in league play.

A strong defensive effort helped Stetson build a 50-33 lead with just 8:32 to play.

The Owls (7-12, 2-2) started chipping away, cutting the lead to 11 with 5:37 remaining, to eight with 4:03 to go, and then to just three with the ball on the game's final possession. However, a potential game-tying 3-pointer from Kelly Dulkoski hit the back iron, and the Hatters escaped with the victory.

"We had a good lead, and then we gave them lay-ups and turned the ball over," Stetson head coach Lynn Bria said. "I thought that really hurt. To Kennesaw's credit, they stayed aggressive. They have never been a team to lay down and die. I knew as long as there was time on the clock, we needed to keep playing."

Stetson held Kennesaw to just seven points in the first quarter, 24 points at halftime, and 32 points through three quarters. The Hatters recorded 10 steals and forced KSU into 17 turnovers for the game.

"I thought our defense was really good," Bria said. "We executed the defensive game plan very well. Kennesaw is a good inside-outside team, so you have to guard both."

Myka Johnson-Matthews and Aisha Turner joined Saunders in double figures with 10 points apiece. Breana Bey had eight points and nine rebounds, while Sarah Sagerer added eight points as well.

DeAsia Beal recorded six steals on the defensive end.

Dulkoski led the Owls with 18 points.

The Hatters will continue their road trip at Lipscomb Monday night. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Notes: Brianti Saunders has scored in double figures in all 18 games this season ... Turner has reached double figures eight times and Johnson-Matthews, four times ... The Hatters win for the 15th straight time vs. Kennesaw State and the ninth straight time at the Convocation Center ... Stetson has had seven games decided by six points or less, including the last three in a row ... It was the 295th career victory for head coach Lynn Bria.