BOCA RATON, Fla. – A dominant second-half performance lifted the Florida Atlantic Owls (7-1, 1-0 C-USA) to a C-USA-opening 70-60 win over rival FIU (4-4, 0-1 C-USA), extending the Owls’ winning streak to six on Tuesday evening at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.
“It’s really exciting. Obviously, you’re checking two big boxes, it’s your rival that’s down the road, and it’s also your first conference game,” expressed head coach Jennifer Sullivan. “Really excited for our girls and our team. We executed the gameplan great. Did a really good job being locked in with what we’re trying to do, and couldn’t be happier for them for all the hard work they’ve been doing in practice.”
Three Owls recorded double-digit performances in the win, led by Alexa Zaph with a game-high 18 points. Zaph shot 44 percent (4-of-9) from the field, including 33 percent (1-of-3) from 3-point range, and knocking down 90 percent (9-of-10) from the free throw line. She also added three boards and a steal. Aniya Hubbard scored a team second-best 16, shooting an impressive 64 percent (7-of-11) from the field, while pulling down a team-leading seven rebounds, and adding an assist and a steal. Janeta Rozentale rounded out the Owls’ double-figure scorers with 10 points, shooting 67 percent from the field (4-of-6) and the free throw line (2-of-3). Rozentale collected three rebounds, tied for a team-high two assists, and added a steal in the win.
After battling through seven ties and five lead changes to open the contest at 15-15, the Owls gained the slight edge through the final two minutes of the first period, taking a 20-19 advantage after one.
FAU extended its lead to three at 24-21 off baskets from Joiya Maddox and Aniya Hubbard, however the Panthers produced a 12-6 run over the final eight minutes of the opening half to put FAU at a three-point deficit entering the halftime break, 33-30.
The Panthers continued their momentum into the second half, producing a 9-4 run to open the half, giving FIU an eight-point lead, 42-34, at the 6:53-minute mark. Staring down an eight-point deficit, the Owls regrouped after the third-period media timeout to counter punch with an 11-2 run of their own, retaking the lead 45-44 with 1:55 to play in the third. FIU knocked down another shot to take the lead once more at 46-45, but back-to-back trips to the free throw line from Amber Gaston and Alexa Zaph tacked on four more points for the Owls, giving FAU a three-point advantage heading into the final 10 minutes of play, 49-46.
The Owls dominated the final period of play. The Owls flexed their muscles, producing a 16-5 run over the first eight minutes of the fourth, pushing FAU’s lead to its largest of the contest at 14, 65-51. The Panthers attempted to rally with two minutes to play, outscoring FAU 9-5, but the Owls 14-point advantage was just too much to overcome as the FAU held on for the conference-opening 10-point victory, 70-60.
NOTES AND TEAM STATS
- The Owls win snapped a four-game skid against the Panthers
- FAU held FIU to a season-low 60 points
- Three Owls scored double-figures in the win, led by Alexa Zaph with a game-high 18 points, and followed by Aniya Hubbard with 16 points and Janeta Rozentale with 10 points.
- FAU outscored FIU by 13 points, 40-27, during the second half, shooting 55 percent from the field, 50 percent from 3-point range, and 77 percent from the charity stripe
- The Owls outrebounded the Panthers 38-35, and also outscored FIU in the paint, 34-32.
UP NEXT
The Owls hit the road next week as they travel to Chicago, Illinois on Monday, Dec. 19 to open up a two-game road trip at Chicago State. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m. ET.
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