College of Charleston
Kennesaw State
Kotcella, Jones Lead Cougars to 86-79 Win over Owls
11/22/2008 5:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Brooke Kotcella (Anderson, S.C) and Deidra Jones (Irmo, S.C.) both scored career-highs to lead the College of Charleston women's basketball team to the 86-79 win over Kennesaw State this afternoon at the KSU Convocation Center in Kennesaw, Ga.
The Cougars improve to 2-1 on the year, marking the first time since the 2004-05 season they have opened the season 2-1. Kennesaw Sate falls to 0-4 on the year. The 86 points by CofC was the largest total since scoring 96 against Wofford Feb. 14, 2005.
The Owls jumped out to a nine point lead six minutes into the contest, but the Cougars used an 11-2 run to take the lead, 23-22, with 9:30 left in the first half. KSU would get the lead back to two points, but Charleston surged forward with seven consecutive points to take a 32-25 lead with 6:13 to go.
KSU pulled within three with 2:47 to go, but Jones scored six of the Cougars' eight points in a small 8-4 run to lead the team into the locker room at half winning 42-35.
In the second half, the lead grew to as large as 12 for the Cougars, coming at 75-63 with seven minutes to go. The Owls weren't done, though, as KSU went on a 16-8 run to cut the margin to four with just 29 seconds to remaining. Clutch free throws by the Cougars down the stretch kept the Owls from getting any closer as CofC took the 86-79 win.
Charleston was led by Kotcella's 22 points, with Tonia Gerty (Port Orange, Fla.) adding 19 points and seven assists, and Jones tossing in 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Jade Hughes (Spartanburg, S.C.) also had seven assists for the Cougars.
Kennesaw State was led by Kelley with 23 points. Jennifer Baker followed with 19 on the afternoon. Britteny Henderson paced the Owls with seven rebounds.
Charleston shot 50.0 percent from the field for the game, compared to 46.7 for KSU. The Cougars went 18-for-24 from the free throw line, while the Owls were19-for-29. Charleston edged KSU 36-35 in rebounds and had one more turnover, 20-19.
The Owls will be back in action on December 3 when they visit Troy for a 7 p.m. game. The Cougars host Coastal Carolina Nov. 25 in a 7 p.m. contest at the Carolina First Arena. It will be the first contest for CofC in the new building.
