BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University women’s basketball team (5-8, 3-6 Conference USA) stayed put in the winning column, taking down UTSA (2-16, 0-13 C-USA) Friday night, 72-59. Iggy Allen (23 points and 16 rebounds) and Janeta Rozentale (17 points and 10 rebounds) recorded double-doubles in the win, which marked the first time the Owls logged back-to-back wins this season.
HOW IT WAS DECIDED
1Q
The Owls started to heat up midway through the quarter, shooting 4-4 from the field, which included Alexa Zaph nailing down a 3-pointer and Rozentale converting a three-point play after being fouled on a layup. The Owls would end the quarter on an 11-0 run to lead the Roadrunners 22-11 after one quarter of play. FAU also nailed six 3-pointers in the first frame.
2Q
UTSA initiated a 9-2 run to open up the second quarter and close in on FAU, who led 25-20. Zaph then converted on a second-chance jumper to extend the Owls’ lead back up to seven with five minutes left in the half. FAU was unable to connect from the field for four minutes until Sofia Galeron drained a 3-pointer with one minute remaining. Rozentale knocked down two free throws with 34 seconds left in the half, as the Owls went into the locker room with a 35-25 advantage.
3Q
After having to sit out most of the first half due to foul trouble, Allen wasted no time, nailing a jumper in the first six seconds of the second half. FAU began the quarter on a 9-3 run to lead 44-28 with 8:17 left in the third. Allen then elevated the Owls to a 17-point lead, capitalizing on a UTSA turnover to score a layup. Rozentale followed with a layup of her own, as the Owls led 53-35 with 4:42 remaining. UTSA broke a four minute drought without a field goal off a 3-pointer to trail by 13, but Allen made a layup off her own miss, as the Owls stayed ahead, 55-40.
4Q
Allen nailed a jumper as the shot clock expired with the Owls leading 57-40 to open up the quarter. The Roadrunners cut the Owls’ lead to 10 with 3:52 left, but the Owls finished the game on a 9-6 run, which included back-to-back jumpers by Allen, a layup by Rozentale and two free throws by Nikola Ozola. FAU defeated UTSA, 72-59, to capture its second consecutive C-USA victory of the season.
GAME NOTES
- Allen led all scorers to capture 23 points, 16 rebounds and two steals for her sixth double-double of the season. She scored 19 of her points in the second half
- Rozentale matched a career-high 17 points and added 10 boards for her third double-double of the year
- Allen and Rozentale both logging double-doubles marks the second time this season the duo has captured a double-double together in a single game with the last being at FIU
- Zaph tallied 11 points and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds. She also captured three assists
- Rita Pleskevich put up seven points and three assists
- The Owls pulled down 51 rebounds, which marks the fourth time this season FAU has had more than 50 rebounds. FAU also had 23 offensive boards, which marks the seventh contest the Owls have tallied 14+ offensive boards
- FAU held UTSA to 59 points, the lowest number defensively for FAU this season
FROM COACH JIM
“We are grateful for the win,” said head coach Jim Jabir. “We need to do a better job of defending and rebounding for the entire length of the game. I wasn’t pleased with our intensity and our focus and we have to get a lot better tomorrow.”
UP NEXT
The Owls close out the series with UTSA tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Abessinio Court at FAU Arena. 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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