Lady Tops fall 78-64 to Kennesaw

Published 4:00 pm Sunday, January 4, 2026

Western Kentucky senior forward Zsofia Telegdy dribbles the ball past a Kennesaw State defender during the Lady Toppers' 78-64 loss Sunday in Kennesaw, Georgia. (WKU ATHLETICS)

Western Kentucky’s women’s basketball team dropped a 78-64 decision to Kennesaw State on Sunday afternoon at the KSU Convocation Center in Kennesaw, Georgia.

The Lady Toppers started the game on a 6-0 run. The Owls made a free throw to get their first point on the board at the 5:53 mark of the quarter. The teams went back and forth, but Kennesaw State (8-5 overall, 1-1 Conference USA) used a 9-2 run to cut into WKU’s lead and tie the game with 1:31 left. A layup from Mya Pratcher with 35 seconds left put WKU (4-9, 0-2 CUSA) ahead by two going into the second quarter.

The Owls scored the first points of the second quarter to tie the game, but WKU scored three on a 1-of-2 trip to the free-throw line and then a jumper from Trinity Rowe to reclaim the lead, 17-14. From there, WKU was outscored 17-7 through the rest of the second quarter, going into halftime down 31-24.

Kennesaw State scored the first four points of the third quarter to take an 11-point lead. That lead ballooned to 21 behind a 18-7 run that included four straight 3-pointers. The Owls took a 62-43 lead into the final quarter.

The Lady Toppers opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run behind two 3-pointers from Tatum Boettjer, to cut the lead down to 11 with 8:01 left. Kennesaw State responded with a 9-3 run to go back ahead, 71-54. From there, WKU outscored the Owls 10-7 to finish out the game. Overall, WKU outscored Kennesaw State 21-16 in the fourth quarter.

WKU’s Zsofia Telegdy poured in a season high 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 shooting from 3-point range. It was her first 20-point game of the season and the third of her career.

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Rowe dished out a career-high 10 assists. She’s the first Lady Topper since Jan. 25, 2025 to record double-digit assists.

The Lady Tops’ Torri James had fifth double-digit game of the season with 12 points.

Bottjer connected on four 3-pointers for 12 points. It was her third double-digit performance of the season.

WKU as a team made 10 3-pointers, which tied a season high for the Lady Toppers.

The Lady Toppers will return to E.A. Diddle Arena for the first time since Dec. 3 this week. WKU hosts CUSA rival New Mexico State on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.