JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Interstat) — In a game decided by a single point and a final, missed put-back attempt, the Kennesaw State Owls escaped the ETSU Athletic Center with a 64-63 victory over the East Tennessee State Lady Buccaneers in a non-conference women’s basketball thriller on Wednesday night.

The Owls, who led for the majority of the contest, saw a once-comfortable advantage evaporate in a frantic fourth quarter before securing their second win of the young season. The loss extended East Tennessee State’s early-season struggles, dropping them to 0-3.

Kennesaw State appeared to be in control, building a 50-40 lead by the end of the third quarter behind a methodical offensive attack and a significant rebounding advantage. However, the Lady Buccaneers mounted a furious 23-point fourth-quarter comeback, fueled by defensive pressure and clutch shooting.

The game came down to the final seconds. With five seconds remaining and Kennesaw State clinging to a one-point lead, East Tennessee State’s Anala Nelson was fouled on a three-point attempt. Nelson made the first two free throws to cut the deficit to 64-63 but missed the third. SaBreya Monsanto grabbed the offensive rebound for the Lady Buccaneers but missed a point-blank layup attempt. Kennesaw State’s Keyarah Berry secured the defensive rebound as time expired to seal the win.

The contest was a defensive struggle defined by offensive inefficiency. Kennesaw State scored 64 points on 61 possessions for an offensive rating of 105.6, while East Tennessee State managed 63 points on 64 possessions, an offensive rating of 97.8. The Owls’ superior shooting from the field proved to be a critical difference, as they connected on 24 of 51 attempts compared to the Lady Buccaneers’ 20 of 52.

Latazia Williamson led all scorers for Kennesaw State, providing a crucial offensive spark with 20 points in just 25 minutes of action. The Nashville native was efficient from the floor, helping the Owls establish their presence in the paint, where they outscored East Tennessee State 28-24.

Keyarah Berry was a force for the Owls, stuffing the stat sheet with 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals in a team-high 36 minutes. Trynce Taylor anchored the interior, pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds to go with eight points.

East Tennessee State’s effort was led by a balanced scoring attack and a formidable defensive presence in the post. Lucy Hood came off the bench to score 14 points, all of which came from beyond the arc or the free-throw line. SaBreya Monsanto added 11 points and six rebounds.

The defensive standout for the Lady Buccaneers was Meghan Downing, who recorded four blocked shots and altered numerous others in the paint, contributing to nine points and five rebounds.

Despite committing 14 turnovers, Kennesaw State won the battle on the glass, particularly on the offensive end where they grabbed 12 rebounds, leading to second-chance opportunities. East Tennessee State capitalized more directly on mistakes, scoring 23 points off turnovers compared to Kennesaw State’s 10.

The game was a tale of two halves for Kennesaw State, which improved to 2-1. After a narrow 30-29 lead at halftime, the Owls used a 20-point third quarter to create separation, a cushion they would desperately need to survive the Lady Buccaneers’ late surge.

East Tennessee State, which entered the game as a significant favorite according to statistical projections, continues to search for its first win. The Lady Buccaneers will look to break into the win column at home against Claflin on Saturday. Kennesaw State returns home to face Tennessee Tech the same day.