CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Florida Atlantic University women’s basketball team (10-9, 8-7 in Conference USA) pulled off a huge road win at Charlotte (9-9, 8-5 C-USA) to earn the most C-USA wins in the program’s history of belonging to the league. With a 77-73 win, the Owls have won seven of their last eight games. FAU’s victory also marks the first time the Owls have defeated the 49ers at Halton Arena.
HOW IT WAS DECIDED
1Q
The Owls started out the game with a 6-2 lead, but Charlotte chipped away by going on a 10-2 run. At the media timeout, the Owls trailed 12-8. Each time FAU was closing in on the Charlotte lead, the 49ers answered down the other end. Sofia Galeron knocked down a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left in the first quarter, as the Owls trailed by two, but Charlotte got off a jumper just before the buzzer sounded. FAU finished the quarter behind, 24-20.
2Q
Both teams fell into scoring droughts of their own, but FAU built on an 11-2 run. Iggy Allen tied the game up at 26 apiece with a jumper, while Astou Gaye followed with a 3-pointer and Janeta Rozentale knocking down two free throws. FAU had a 31-26 lead with 3:37 left in the quarter, but Charlotte scored seven unanswered points to retake the lead. With the shot clock turned off, Gaye found Rozentale in the corner and the Latvian knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer and the Owls went into the locker room with a 34-33 lead.
3Q
The score was tied three different times in the opening minutes of the third quarter. FAU then went on a 7-0 run capped off by an Allen 3-pointer, which forced Charlotte to take a timeout. The Owls led 47-40 with five minutes left. Out of the timeout, the Owls hit a scoring drought for over four minutes, which allowed the 49ers to go on a 10-0 run and take back the lead, 51-47 with one minute left. Before the end of the quarter, Allen drove to the basket and got fouled in the process. She converted the 3-point play to get the Owls within one point. FAU trailed 51-50 going into the final quarter.
4Q
FAU was shooting the lights out in the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Owls opened up the quarter on a 13-0 run. Back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers thanks to Alexa Zaph, Allen and Galeron having a lot to do with that scoring run. Charlotte came up with two 3-pointers on their end, but Allen could not miss from beyond the arc, making her fourth 3-pointer of the game with 4:57 left. The 49ers went on a 7-0 run to cut the Owls’ lead to six points with 1:16 left, but Gaye knocked down a huge 3-pointer with the Owls up, 72-63. For what seemed to be the longest minute in basketball’s history and four FAU players fouled out of the contest, Charlotte scored five unanswered points to come within four. Charlotte would not let up, but FAU was clutch from the free throw line to wrap up the game. FAU earned a huge road win, 77-73.
GAME NOTES
- The Owls’ eighth C-USA wins marks the most conference wins for the program since joining the league at the start of the 2013-14 season
- Allen delivered her 10th double-double and third 30-point game of the season. She ended the day with 30 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and a block
- Gaye logged a season-high 16 points along with eight rebounds and two blocks
- Galeron tallied her fourth consecutive double digit scoring game, delivering 10 points and five boards
- Rozentale registered nine points and five rebounds
- Zaph commanded the way to seven points, while matching a career-high six assists. This marks the third straight game the point guard has delivered 5+ assists
- FAU outrebounded Charlotte by a +15 margin (47-32), while ending with 15 offensive boards compared to the 49ers’ seven
- The Owls’ were 94 percent from the free throw line, making 15 of 16 attempts
- FAU is now above .500 and has the opportunity to finish the regular season with a winning record since the 2013-14 season
FROM COACH JIM
On the Win:
“We found a way to win playing ugly today,” said head coach Jim Jabir. “A lot of detail stuff and our defense has to really clean up, but I was really proud. Sofia {Galeron], Lex [Zaph] and Bre [Beck] came up really big from the foul line. We had contributions from everybody today. It was a really great team win, but we have to get better.”
On Earning Most C-USA wins in Program History:
“It has taken a long time. Eight wins is great, but we aren’t satisfied. We want to win championships. It is a step in the right direction, but we have a lot of work yet to do.”
UP NEXT
The Owls will finish the C-USA regular season tomorrow at Charlotte at 3 p.m.
OWLS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For complete coverage of FAU women’s basketball, follow us on Twitter (@FAUWBB), Instagram (@FAUWBB) and Facebook (FAU Women’s Basketball).
