Dallas – Graduate forward Janeta Rozentale paced the Florida Atlantic women’s basketball team with 11 points and a season-high 19 rebounds, but the Owls (5-8, 0-2 AAC) fell in the final minute at SMU (7-6, 1-1 AAC), 57-52, Thursday night in Dallas.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SMU took the opening lead but Devyn Scott tied things up for the Owls at 4-4 after a big 3-pointer off a one-handed dime from Janeta Rozentale. The Owls kept the opening quarter within one after Mya Perry’s first triple of the day, 8-7, but the Mustangs closed the opening frame on a 10-4 run to hold an 18-11 lead after the first.
The Mustangs opened the second on an 8-4 run to extend their lead to 11, 26-15, with 5:42 to play in the half. The Owls locked in over the final five minutes of the first half, holding the Mustangs to just three points through an 8-3 run to close back within six at the break, 29-23.
Rozentale hit a jumper to open the second half, cutting the Owls’ deficit down to just four, 29-25. SMU responded on an 8-1 run to extend the lead back to 11, 37-26, through the 7:20-minute mark of the third. The Owls battled back over the following seven minutes of clock to outscore the Mustangs 13-8 to close back within six, 45-39, entering the final 10 minutes of play.
Rose Caverly knocked down a three to open the fourth, cutting the Owls’ deficit back down to one possession at 45-42, marking the closest the Owls had been during the second half. However, the Mustangs scored eight unanswered to extend SMU’s lead back to double-figures, 53-42, with just 4:16 to play. The Owls locked in once more, mounting a 10-2 comeback run to get back within one possession with 1:21 to play, 55-52. But the Owls just couldn’t get the game-tying shot to fall as the Mustangs tacked on two more to capture the 57-52 contest.
HEAD COACH JENNIFER SULLIVAN POSTGAME THOUGHTS
Coach Sully’s Opening Statement
“Tough game. The same MO of our team so far has just been being able to get stops. I think we defended at a high level and threw a lot of different things at them, but just trying to capitalize on the offensive end of the floor, finding ways to finish and score. I thought we shot the ball well from three but would have liked to have finished better in the paint from two. But was super proud of our defensive effort, the rebounding effort, I thought we had some big plays on the boards from a rebounding standpoint.”
Coach Sully on Janeta’s Performance and Becoming Second All-Time in Career Rebounds
“Really proud of Janeta. She was like a woman possessed. She had 14 rebounds at the half, and we told the team at halftime that not only was that incredible, but that we just needed more from everyone else, and then Dyllan turned around and finished with 13. Janeta’s work ethic, and her feel for the ball, knowing when to go get it and and how to bring it in is just awesome. Just really proud of her.”
NOTES AND TEAM STATS
- Three Owls registered double-figure performances in the contest, led by Janeta Rozentale, who posted her fourth double-double of the season, and followed by Rose Caverly and Mya Perry.
- Rozentale tied for a team-best 11 points, while also grabbing a season-best 19 rebounds. She shot 43 percent (3-of-7) from the field, 33 percent (1-of-3) from 3-point range, and 67 percent (4-of-6) from the free throw line, while also dishing out a team-high four assists and collecting a steal.
- Caverly also turned in a team-leading 11 points, shooting 57 percent (4-of-7) from the field and 50 percent (3-of-6) from 3-point range, while also dishing out three assists and grabbing a board.
- Perry rounded out the Owls’ double-digit scorers with 10 points and added two boards and an assist.
- The Owls outscored the Mustangs 12-11 in the second quarter and 13-12 in the fourth.
- Florida Atlantic also held a big advantage in second-change points, outscoring SMU 15-7 off second-chance opportunities.
UP NEXT
The Owls will continue their first AAC road trip of the year on Sunday, visiting the North Texas Mean Green for a 3 p.m. tip inside The Super Pit and on ESPN+
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