January 26, 2011

KENNESAW, Ga. – Freshmen Briana Williams and Brittnee Hazel combined for 33 points in Wednesday night’s Atlantic Sun women’s basketball game between Kennesaw State and Mercer.  Kennesaw State ultimately captured a 79-56 win, its third-straight win at the KSU Convocation Center.

Kennesaw State moved to 6-12 (3-7 A-Sun) while the Mercer loss dropped the team to 1-18 (1-9 A-Sun).

Sophomore Alex Phillips notched her second career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Williams scored a team-high 17, marking the third-straight game the freshman has led the team in scoring.  Williams’ 17 came on the strength of three-for-eight shooting from long range.

Hazel netted 16 while adding seven rebounds, a block and a steal.

Mercer took a 1-0 lead via a Phillips free throw before the Kennesaw State scored the games’ next five points.  KSU led the entire way after erasing its 1-0 deficit.

KSU moved ahead 13-8 before Williams hit a trey that brought Mercer to within two (13-11).  The Owls answered right back, however, as Angie Smith stepped into a three pointer from the wing on the Owls’ next possession.

KSU pulled away from an 18-13 advantage when the Owls found Ashley Holliday for three pointers on three-straight possessions midway through the first stanza.  After Holliday’s nine-straight points, Williams hit a pair of free throws before Holliday buried another long ball to give KSU its biggest lead of the half (30-15) with 5:11 to go.

Mercer weathered the storm however, scoring outscoring the hosts 12-3 over the next 2:39 to pull within six with 2:32 to play.  KSU finished the half on a 6-0 run to take a 12 point lead into the locker room.

In the second half, Mercer cut the host lead to seven (50-43) with 9:47 to go before the Owls scored the game’s next 15 points to put the contest out of reach.

Mercer outrebounded KSU 46-41, marking the fifth time the team has outrebounded the opponent this season.

Holliday finished with a game-high 29 points, including a program record nine three pointers.  Sophomore forward Sametria Gideon tallied her second double-double of the season with 17 points and 17 rebounds in the win.

Mercer returns to action in a road test at USC Upstate on Saturday, January 29.  Game time is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.