| 12/17/2024 | Women’s Basketball BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic women’s basketball will close out non-conference play this week at the GCU Have Fayth Christmas Classic on Wednesday, Dec. 18 through Saturday, Dec. 21 in Phoenix Arizona at Global Credit Union Arena. The Owls will open up play on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. ET against Georgia Southern, before facing off against host GCU on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 4:30 p.m. ET. Florida Atlantic will then take on Wright State for their non-conference finale on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 12 p.m. ET. GCU Have Fayth Christmas Classic Date Wednesday, Dec. 18 – Saturday, Dec. 21 Location Global Credit Union Arena | Phoenix, Ariz. Game Details Wednesday, Dec. 18 | 2 p.m. ET vs. Georgia Southern (6-3 SBC) Watch Live ($) | Live Stats Thursday, Dec. 19 | 4:30 p.m. ET at Grand Canyon (8-2 WAC) ESPN+ | Live Stats Saturday, Dec. 21 | 12 p.m. ET vs. Wright State (2-8, 0-3 Horizon) Watch Live ($) | Live Stats Florida Atlantic Links Roster | Schedule | Stats Georgia Southern Links Roster | Schedule | Stats GCU Links Roster | Schedule | Stats Wright State Links Roster | Schedule | Stats Social Media X | Instagram | Facebook FLORIDA ATLANTIC: AT A GLANCE The Owls enter the GCU Have Fayth Christmas Classic at 6-4 on the season. The Owls captured a 15-point victory over Kennesaw State in their last contest. As a team, the Owls lead the AAC in field goal percentage defense (.362), fouls per game (14.1), and rebounds per game (42.1), and rank second in 3-point percentage defense (.262), third in bench points per game (21.3), scoring defense (59.0), and 3-point percentage (.325), fourth in defensive rebounds per game (28.4) and 3-pointers per game (6.3), and fifth in offensive rebounds per game (13.7), 3-point attempts per game (19.4), and winning percentage (.600). The Owls are paced offensively by Mya Perry, Erin Rodgers, and Jada Moore. Perry boasts a team-leading 12.9 points per game, while Rodgers ranks second on the Owls, averaging 11.4 points per game, and Moore comes in third with 10.9 points per game. Stefanie Ingram leads the Owls in assists, dishing out a team-best 3.9 assists per game. Defensively, the Owls are led on the glass by Alana Rouser, averaging 6.0 rebounds per contest while also tallying a team-leading 0.9 blocks per game. SCOUTING GEORGIA SOUTHERN Georgia Southern enters the GCU Have Fayth Christmas Classic at 6-3 overall. The Eagles snapped a two-game skid this past Friday with a 78-46 win over Coastal Georgia. The Eagles are led offensively by Nicole Gwynn, who averages 11.3 points per contest. Georgia Southern’s assists leaders are McKenna Eddings, Bukky Akinsola, and Nakiya Mays-Prince, tallying 2.5, 2.1, and 2.0 assists per game, respectively. Mays-Prince leads the Eagles in steals, collecting 2.1 steals per contest. On the glass, the Eagles are led by Indya Green and Leah Johnson, recording 7.8 and 6.6 rebounds per game. Johnson leads the team in blocks, tallying 1.6 blocks per game this season. SERIES HISTORY Georgia Southern leads the all-time series between the Owls and the Eagles, 4-3. The Owls have won the last three meetings between the two programs, including an 82-58 win during the last meeting on Nov. 29, 2013. The Eagles hold the only neutral site win between the two teams, taking a 75-57 contest in Huntington, West Virginia on Nov. 22, 2022. SCOUTING GRAND CANYON Grand Canyon enters the GCU Have Fayth Christmas Classic at 8-2 overall and are currently on a six-game winning streak. The Lopes feature four players averaging double-figure scoring totals this season. GCU’s leading scorer is Alyssa Durazo-Frescas, averaging 14.4 points per game. Trinity San Antonio, Laura Erikstrup, and Tiarra Brown round out the Lopes double-figure scorers, averaging 14.0, 13.4, and 10.9 points per contest this season. San Antonio leads the Lopes in assists, dishing out 5.7 assists per game, and steals, collecting 3.0 steals per game. On the boards, GCU is led by Erikstrup and Nneka Obiazor, pulling down 5.5 and 4.9 rebounds per game, respectively. Brown leads the team in blocks, tallying 0.8 blocks per game. SERIES HISTORY GCU leads Florida Atlantic 2-0 all-time. The Lopes won a 77-73 double overtime contest in the last meeting between the two programs on Dec. 1, 2017, in Boca Raton. The Owls are 0-1 all-time in Phoenix, dropping their only road contest, 81-60, on Dec. 4, 2016. SCOUTING WRIGHT STATE Wright State heads into the GCU Have Fayth Christmas Classic at 2-8 overall and 0-3 in Horizon League play, and is currently on a four-game skid. The Raiders are paced offensively by Amaya Staton and Claire Henson, averaging 10.7 and 10.2 points per game. Wright State’s assists and steals leader is Olivia Brown, recording 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Defensively, the Raiders are led by Staton and Henson on the glass, collecting 7.9 and 6.4 rebounds per game, respectively. Staton also leads Wright State in blocks, averaging 1.2 blocks per game. SERIES HISTORY Saturday will mark the first-ever meeting between Florida Atlantic and Wright State. LAST TIME OUT: VS. KENNESAW STATE The Owls picked up their sixth win of the season and fifth win at home in a dominant 15-point win, 71-56, against Kennesaw State this past Friday. Four Owls scored double figures in the win, led by Jada Moore with a season-high 20 points, shooting 67 percent (10-of-15) from the floor, in addition to adding six boards, two steals, and an assist in the win. Mya Perry, Stefanie Ingram, and Ta’Ziah Jenks joined Moore in double figures, tallying 13, 12, and 10 points, respectively.Ingram led the Owls in assists, dishing out a game-high five. Emaya Lewis led the Owls on the glass with a team-high seven rebounds, and Alana Rouser posted a game-high three blocks. UP NEXT Following the GCU Have Fayth Christmas Classic, the Owls will kick off AAC play at home, hosting the Tulane Green Wave on Sunday, Dec. 29. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena and on ESPN+. FOLLOW THE OWLS For updates, follow @FAUWBB_Hoops on X and @FAUWBB on Instagram, or like Florida Atlantic Women’s Basketball on Facebook. |
