BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University women’s basketball team (4-11, 0-4 in Conference USA) was unable to come up with a much-needed road win on Monday night, falling to Old Dominion (12-3, 2-1 in Conference USA), 61-48, behind a season’s most 31 turnovers. FAU came into the fourth quarter with a 39-38 lead over the Monarchs, but were unable to close out the game. The Owls’ achilleas heal during the first four games of C-USA play has been the fourth quarter, as FAU has been outscored by opponents 97-57 in the final frame. The difficulties continued, as the Owls were outscored 23-9 in the fourth.
HOW IT WAS DECIDED
1Q
The Owls got the game rolling on a 9-0 run behind 80% shooting, forcing ODU, who began the game 0-for-6 from the field, to take a timeout just under four minutes into the game. Rita Pleskevich kept the run rolling with a jumper off a quick release, but then ODU answered with its first basket of the game with 5:13 left in the first quarter. With under three minutes to go in the first, FAU committed three turnovers. Pleskevich heated up in the latter part of the quarter, knocking down a 3-pointer to extend the Owls’ lead to nine with 1:45 left in the first. ODU would finish the quarter on a 5-0 run, as FAU led, 19-15.
2Q
As FAU had troubles scoring in the opening minutes of the quarter, ODU was able to tie the game at 19 with 6:22 left in the half. Alexa Zaph would then break the drought after receiving a nice feed from Pleskevich under the basket. On the Monarchs’ next possession, ODU took the lead for the first time of the game off a 3-pointer, which was also their first of the game after beginning the contest 0-for-5 from beyond the arc. ODU took charge on an 11-0 run, as FAU continued to have issues taking care of the ball and knocking down baskets. FAU ended the quarter on a 3-0 run, but after being outscored 15-5 in the frame, the Owls trailed 30-24 at the intermission.
3Q
Kynadi Kuykendoll continued the Owls’ scoring run by knocking down a jumper, as FAU trailed 30-26 with 8:18 left in the third. Galeron then helped the Owls on two straight possessions, coming up with a beautiful hook shot and following that up with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 32. ODU retook the lead on their next possession, but that advantage did not last for long, as Janeta Rozentale was fouled under the basket and knocked down both free throws to tie the game back up at 34 with 5:08 left in the third. The Owls fell in a scoring drought for over two minutes out of the media timeout, as the Owls trailed 38-34 with 2:57 left in the third. Zaph then made a nice driving layup off her steal and got fouled in the process. She knocked down the free throw and the Owls trailed by one, 38-37. Rozentale came up with big plays in the latter part of the quarter, including a buzzer beater jumper, as the Owls retook the lead, 39-38.
4Q
Rozentale opened up the Owls’ scoring in the fourth quarter with a layup to notch her eighth double-digit scoring game of the season. The Monarchs brought their lead back up to three points, but a Zaph layup helped the Owls close in within one point with 5:43 remaining. In the last five minutes of the game, ODU outscored FAU 16-3, handing the Owls their sixth straight loss.
GAME NOTES
- Galeron led the Owls with 13 points and 11 rebounds, marking her fourth double-double in the last five games. Her four double-doubles is the fourth most in the conference. Galeron also knocked down three 3-pointers, her eighth multi-3-pointer game of the season
- Rozentale tallied 12 points, seven boards, three blocks and three steals
- Zaph logged her second consecutive double digit scoring contest, logging 14 points and three rebounds
- Pleskevich pulled down a career-high nine rebounds to match her seven points
- FAU held the Monarchs to 1-for-19 from beyond the arc for 5%
UP NEXT
The Owls will remain on the road to round to take on WKU on Thursday, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. FAU will be back home to face UTEP on Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. Tickets for the game can be purchased here or by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS.
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