BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University women’s basketball team (2-5, 0-4 C-USA) dropped another close game on Saturday afternoon, falling to Old Dominion (5-3, 2-2 C-USA), 77-72. FAU led ODU by eight points with five minutes left in the contest, but a 14-0 run by the Monarchs helped ODU takeover the lead and claim the win. The Owls had four players in double digits in the loss.
HOW IT WAS DECIDED
1Q
The Owls offense got started quicker than yesterday, as Alexa Zaph drove to the basket for a layup and got fouled in the process for a three-point play. After an exchange of baskets, ODU went on a 4-0 run to go ahead 8-5 with 7:34 left in the first frame. Allie Tylka then tied the game with a 3-pointer at eight, a piece. The Owls then found themselves in a hole, committing three turnovers in two minutes and having trouble finding the basket. Iggy Allen got the Owls out of the hole and FAU went 4-4 from the field to inch with two points, 18-16. ODU would finish the quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 26-16 lead
2Q
Amber Gaston helped the Owls get out of the drought with a nice look under the basket for a layup. FAU would then go on a 10-0 run with Tylka tying the game up with a 3-pointer at 26. Allen and Gaston found a nice connection going under the basket to keep the Owls rolling in second quarter. At the media timeout with 4:39 remaining in the half, both teams were knotted up at 33. FAU would then go on a 6-0 run, and was benefited from ODU’s Victoria Morris committing an intentional foul to send Rita Pleskevich to the line for two foul shots, which she drained. The Owls then committed four turnovers in the final three minutes and ODU took advantage, but FAU still led at the half, 43-38.
3Q
FAU picked up from where they left off in the first half, shooting 4-5 from the field in an early three minute stretch in the quarter. Sofia Galeron then nailed a 3-pointer to extend the Owls lead, 60-52 with 2:33 on the clock. ODU outscored FAU 4-1 in the final minute, but the Owls were still on top, 61-56.
4Q
Nikola Ozola found Allen under the basket to get things started for the Owls in the fourth quarter. FAU committed three turnovers, which ODU capitalized on to come within four points. Rita Pleskevich pinned a crucial 3-pointer to extend the Owls lead to seven, 66-59, but that cushion was not enough, as ODU scored 16 straight points to overtake the lead. FAU had no field goals for over five minutes late in the frame, ultimately falling to ODU, 77-72.
GAME NOTES
- Allen had an overall productive game on both sides of the ball, recording 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and a career-high six steals
- Gaston tallied a season-high 16 points, while shooting 7-11 from the field. The forward also pulled down a season-high seven boards and recorded two blocks
- Pleskevich logged her third straight double digit scoring game, producing 15 points and four rebounds
- Zaph matched a season-high 13 points, while tallying four assists. She had to sit out for majority of the first half due to injury
- Galeron drew her first Owl start, putting up three points and six boards, while Ozola scored three points and added four assists
- Tylka had six points and four boards
- The Owls had four players in double figures in scoring for the fourth time this season
UP NEXT
The Owls will be back at home to face FIU for a home-and-away series, starting in Boca Raton next Friday at 5 p.m. with the series finishing up at FIU on Saturday at 4 p.m. Tickets may be purchased here. All tickets for home games will be delivered digitally on individual mobile devices. Season tickets may be purchased through the ticket office by calling 1-800-FAU-OWLS (866-328-6957) or emailing tickets@fau.edu.
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