BOCA RATON, Fla. – A record-setting fourth-quarter defensive performance powered the Florida Atlantic Owls (3-1, 0-0 AAC) to their third-straight win, defeating the Stetson Hatters (1-4, 0-0 ASUN) 50-39 on Monday evening at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Stetson took the early lead, but the Owls responded to even things up at six at the 5:24-mark off a layup from Janeta Rozentale. The Owls and Hatters traded leads through a 10-9 Stetson advantage, but the Owls closed the first on a 6-3 run to take a 15-13 lead after the first.
The Hatters opened the second quarter scoring to even the game at 15-15, before going on a 5-0 run to take a 20-15 lead. The Owls battled back to cut the deficit down to three at 23-20, following a pair of Rozentale free throws, however, the Hatters outscored the Owls 6-2 to close out the half, sending the teams into the locker room with the Owls trailing by seven, 29-22.
Stetson extended its lead to nine of a pair of free throws to open the second half, 31-22. The Owls attempted to battle back, cutting the deficit to three, 31-28, after a free throw from Hubbard at the 3:37-minute mark. The Hatters kicked their lead back out to seven following a 6-2 run, but another Rozentale free throw closed out the period to send the Owls into the final 10 minutes of play, trailing by six, 37-31.
The Owls’ defense was absolutely suffocating in the fourth quarter, keeping the Hatters scoreless for nearly 10 minutes of play. Florida Atlantic scored 20 unanswered from the 0:31 mark of the third quarter through the 1:32-minute mark of the fourth to take a 50-37 lead. The Hatters finally scored at the 1:09-minute mark, but it was too little too late as the Owls secured the 11-point win, 50-39.
NOTES AND TEAM STATS
- Jada Moore, Aniya Hubbard, and Janeta Rozentale led the Owls in the 50-39 win.
- Moore filled the stat sheet, finishing with a season-high 16 points, shooting 46 percent (6-of-13) from the field and 67 percent (4-of-6) from the line, while also pulling down six boards, dishing out three assists, and collecting a pair of steals.
- Hubbard scored 14 points, shooting 33 percent (4-of-12) from the field, 33 percent (1-of-3) from 3-point range, and 83 percent from the free throw line. She also tallied six rebounds and grabbed a team-leading three steals.
- Rozentale also finished with 14 points, shooting a team-leading 63 percent (5-of-8) from the field, and 67 percent (4-of-6) from the free throw line. She added a team-leading nine rebounds, an assist, and a blocked shot.
- The Owls held the Hatters to a program-record two points in the fourth quarter, marking the fewest points the Owls have ever held a team to in a single quarter.
- The Owls outshot the Hatters from the field, 37 percent to 27 percent.
- Florida Atlantic also won on the glass, outrebounding the Hatters 39-32, outmuscling Stetson on 27-20 on the defensive glass.
- The Owls also held an advantage in steals, 7-4, and blocked shots, 4-2.
- Florida Atlantic scored most of their points in the paint, outscoring Stetson 32-10 at the rim, in addition to holding an advantage in points off turnovers, 15-13, second-chance points, 9-5, and fast break points, 11-0.
UP NEXT
Florida Atlantic will head back on the road following the Thanksgiving holiday as the Owls head to Kennesaw, Georgia to take on the Kennesaw State Owls for a 2 p.m. tip on Saturday, Nov. 25.
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