KENNESAW, Ga. (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive stands and critical late-game execution, the Kennesaw State Owls overcame a second-half deficit to defeat the Liberty Lady Flames 64-58 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at KSU Convocation Center.

A pivotal third-quarter surge proved to be the most important part of the contest, flipping the momentum permanently in favor of the home team. After trailing by three points at halftime, Kennesaw State emerged from the break with a 20-point third quarter, fueled by defensive pressure that disrupted Liberty’s rhythm. The Owls forced a series of Lady Flames turnovers, converting them into transition opportunities. A key sequence saw Keyarah Berry strip the ball and score a layup, followed shortly by a Latazia Williamson tip-in off an offensive rebound, part of an 8-0 run that gave Kennesaw State a lead it would not relinquish. The Owls outscored Liberty by seven in the period, turning a 29-26 halftime deficit into a 49-42 advantage heading to the final quarter.

Liberty, which had won two straight coming in, mounted a persistent challenge in the fourth. The Lady Flames cut the deficit to two points on multiple occasions, the last at 58-56 following a three-pointer from Ify Nwaobi with 1:12 remaining. But Kennesaw State answered immediately, as Shania Nichols drained a clutch three-pointer on the ensuing possession, assisted by Kailyn Fields, to push the lead back to five with 57 seconds left.

The Owls then sealed the game at the free-throw line in the final seconds. After a Liberty offensive foul, Nichols made one of two free throws with 17 seconds left. Following a missed Liberty layup, Fields was fouled and sank both attempts with five seconds remaining to provide the final margin.

Nwaobi, a 6-foot-2 forward from Calgary, Canada, was a force for Liberty, recording a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds to go with three blocks. Emmy Stout, a 6-3 forward from San Diego, led all Liberty scorers with 18 points. The Lady Flames were efficient from the foul line, making all 11 of their attempts, but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on only 3 of 13.

Kennesaw State was led by the backcourt duo of Nichols and Berry. Nichols, a 5-7 guard from Saint Paul, Minnesota, scored a team-high 18 points, including two critical three-pointers. Berry, a 5-9 guard from Rockmart, Georgia, added 17 points and six rebounds. Fields, the 5-6 point guard from Atlanta, orchestrated the offense with a game-high nine assists to go with seven points.

Defense and rebounding were decisive factors. While both teams shot similarly from the field—Kennesaw State at 42.9% and Liberty at 44.0%—the Owls dominated the offensive glass, securing eight offensive rebounds to Liberty’s three, leading to second-chance opportunities. Kennesaw State also generated 12 points off 11 Liberty turnovers.

The loss drops Liberty to an even 11-11 on the season, while Kennesaw State improves to 10-11. The game was played before an announced crowd of 822.

Liberty will look to rebound when it hosts UTEP on Thursday. Kennesaw State begins a two-game road trip at Western Kentucky on the same night.