FAU’s Defense Handles Charlotte, 65-44

BOCA RATON, Fla. – (Jan. 23, 2020) – The Florida Atlantic University women’s basketball team (9-9, 3-4 C-USA) earned their way back in the win column, knocking down Charlotte (11-6, 2-4 C-USA) Thursday night, 65-44. FAU’s defense held Charlotte to a 26.8 shooting percentage and just 44 points, which marks the least amount of points the Owls have given up in a game since 2013.

How It Was Decided:

The Owls got the ball rolling in the first quarter by going on a 12-6 run, which was capped off by a three-point play delivered by Crystal Primm. The guard would then hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the quarter scoring eight of her 20 points on the night, as the Owls led 21-13.

Charlotte would then claw their way back to come within two points midway through the second quarter by going on an 11-2 run. That was the closest the 49ers would get to regaining the lead, as Juliette Gauthier drove to the basket for a layup and Primm hit her second 3-pointer of the night following a steal by Lotta Vehka-Aho. With a minute left to go in the half, Gauthier knocked down another 3-pointer to send the Owls into the locker room with a 31-21 lead.

In the third quarter, Gauthier continued to be on fire from beyond the arc, going 2-2 from downtown. The Owls ended the frame on an 8-2 scoring drive to end the quarter with a 49-28 advantage after outscoring Charlotte, 18-7.

The Owls led by as many as 28 points in the game following a 3-pointer tallied by Abby Voss midway through the fourth quarter. Although Charlotte went on a 9-2 run in the final four minutes of play, the Owls still won in convincing fashion, 65-44.

Game Notes:

  • Primm delivered her fourth consecutive 20+ point game, as the West Palm Beach, Florida product tallied 20 points and seven rebounds
  • Gauthier followed with 18 points and nine boards to be just short of a double-double. The sophomore finished the night going 4-6 from beyond the arc, while adding three assists and a steal
  • Astou Gaye finished the night with eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and a steal in 20 minutes of play
  • Vehka-Aho was productive in many aspects of the game, logging five assists and matching a career-high four steals along with six points
  • Nikola Ozola came off the bench delivering a career-high four boards along with two steals
  • The Owls held the 49ers to just 44 points, which is the least amount of points an FAU defense has held an opponent to in the Jim Jabir era. The last time FAU held an opponent to less than 44 points was in 2013 when the Owls took down Florida Memorial, 120-43
  • FAU outshot Charlotte 45.5 percent versus 26.8 and held the 49ers to just six assists
  • The Owls hit eight 3-pointers in the game to continue the Owls’ streak of hitting a trey in a game. FAU has tallied a 3-pointer in 300 consecutive game with the streak stretching back to Dec. 30, 2009 against Georgia Southern
  • With three conference wins, the Owls surpass last season’s C-USA win total

With Coach Jabir:

“I think the kids are just playing harder and more confidently, but we have a long way to go,” said head coach Jim Jabir. “It is a very tough league and we still have a lot of games to play and we have to get a lot better.”

Up Next:

The Owls will finish out the homestand on Saturday against Old Dominion. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. with the game being broadcast on ESPN+. For tickets, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or visit fausports.com.
 

Owls on Social Media:
For complete coverage of FAU women’s basketball, follow us on Twitter (@FAU_WBB), Instagram (@FAU_WBB) and Facebook (Florida Atlantic Women’s Basketball).

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Florida Atlantic University Athletics:

FAU Athletics is comprised of 21 intercollegiate teams involving 450 student-athletes that compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, volleyball, beach volleyball, cheer and dance. The Owls are a NCAA Division I-A (FBS) institution and compete in Conference USA and the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) (beach volleyball, men’s swimming). The Owls have been playing football since 2001 and are a perfect 4-0 in bowl games, the most recent being a 52-28 victory over SMU in the 2019 Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl. The dance team finished its 2014 season No. 8, nationally. FAU cheer won a national championship in 2016.  

About Florida Atlantic University:

Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six county service region in southeast Florida. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU’s existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visitwww.fau.edu.