NJIT at Kennesaw State Replay

NJIT Highlights at Kennesaw State

KENNESAW, GA—Kennesaw State freshman Kamiyah Street scored 18 of her game-high 26 points in the second half, leading four double-figure scorers in the Owls 80-65 win over visiting NJIT in ASUN Conference action Wednesday afternoon at the KSU Convocation Center.

The Owls improve to 2-5 in the league, 6-12 overall while the Highlanders drop to 1-6 in the conference, 3-19 overall.

Street, the reigning ASUN Conference Newcomer of the Week, finished 10-for-17 from the field 6-of-7 from the free throw line, including six rebounds and six assists for the home team.

Guard Clara Young scored 15 points followed by Alexis Poole, who added 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Owls.  Forward Lexi Mann registered a double-double 11 points and 13 rebounds while sophomore Carlotta Gianolla added 10 points in 19 minutes of action before leaving the contest due to shoulder injury.

Tatianna Torres scored a team-high 17 points while Kelly Guarino and Dez Allen each scored 16 points.  The 16 points for Allen matches her career-high 16 points against Long Beach State on December 28.  Ellyn Stoll added eight points for the Highlanders off the bench.

Kennesaw State opened the matinee contest with an 11-3 lead, just under the four minute mark.  Danielle Tunstall broke the ice, knocking down one-of-two from the free throw line at 3:47.  An old-fashion three-point play converted by Dez Allen and back-to-back buckets by Tatianna Torres, bringing the Highlanders to within five, 16-11.

NJIT's momentum continued into the second quarter, as the Highlanders used a 5-0 spurt to tie the contest at 16 after a fast break layup by Allen and three-pointer by Kelly Guarino, resulting in a Kennesaw State timeout at the 8:20 mark.

The Highlanders went ahead 18-16 after a pair of free throws by Tunstall at the 6:12 mark.  Kennesaw State got on the board for the first time in the second quarter on a layup by Kamiyah Street, knotting the game at 18.

The Owls held a four-point lead, 26-22, with 1:40 left after a layup by Street but the Highlanders closed out the half on a 4-1 run, thanks to a three-pointer by Guarino as time expired heading into the half down one, 27-26.

Guarino and Torres led all scorers at the half with nine points followed by Street with eight points.

Kennesaw State exploded for 28 third quarter points, pushing its lead to 10, 55-44, heading into the fourth quarter.

NJIT's Guarino knocked down a three-pointer to open the fourth quarter and Allen, who hit one-of-two from the free throw line, pulled the Highlanders to within eight, 55-47, at the 9:35 mark.

NJIT stayed within single digits of Kennesaw State, 66-57, at the 4:49 mark, but the Owls scored six straight to push ahead by 15, 72-57.  The Highlanders used a 7-2 run to cut the Owl deficit to within 10, 74-64, after a layup by Stoll.
The Owls closed out the game on a 6-1 run to secure its second win in ASUN Conference action, 80-65. 

NJIT will return to action on Saturday at 1:30pm (CT) when the Highlanders visit Lipscomb.  In the first meeting, senior Lauren Cagle led all scorers with 21 points, leading Lipscomb to a 74-58 victory over NJIT in Newark, NJ.