BOCA RATON, Fla. – (Nov. 20, 2019) – The Florida Atlantic University women’s basketball team (2-2) will look to win their second straight home game, as the squad hosts former Sun Belt Conference foe Little Rock (1-3) on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Abessinio Court at FAU Arena.
About the Owls:
The Owls attained their largest margin of victory in the Jim Jabir era, as well as the biggest for the program since 2013 against Siena on Tuesday. FAU is now looking to close out the homestand with their first ever win over Little Rock. Thursday’s game marks the 11th matchup between the former Sun Belt opponents, and the Owls are looking to capitalize to win back-to-back home games for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
Through the first four games, Crystal Primm is the leading scorer, averaging 14.0 points per game. Juliette Gauthier follows with 11.5 points per game, with her and Primm leading the way in rebounds, each with 8.5 per game. Lotta Vehka-Aho has contributed greatly on both sides of the ball with a team’s best 20 assists and eight steals.
Last Time Out:
FAU came out victorious in its home opener on Tuesday over Siena. The 83-39 win marked the largest margin of victory for FAU since 2013, when the Owls took down Florida Memorial, 120-43. FAU opened up the game with a 22-0 run with 4:13 left in the first with Juliette Gauthier knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers in one minute and 29 seconds. The Owls went into the locker room with a 54-17 lead, shooting 55.4 percent from the field and 61.5 percent from beyond the arc in the first half. FAU ran into a scoring drought for over half of the third quarter, but recovered by closing the frame on an 8-0 run. The Owls held the Saints to just three points in the fourth quarter, making for the least amount of points scored by an opponent in a quarter.
Gauthier had her first double-double of the season, second in her career, matching a career-high in points (24) and setting new record highs in rebounds (12) and 3-pointers (six). The Owls showcased four players in double figures on Tuesday, as Lotta Vehka-Aho, Abby Voss and Alexa Zaph each scored 10 points. Vehka-Aho also captured six rebounds and five assists, while Zaph tallied a game-high six assists. FAU set several new season highs, including in points (83), field goal percentage (47.6), rebounds (53) and 3-pointers made (11).
The Trojans were projected to win the Sun Belt based on the preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches. Little Rock was given six first place votes. Guard Kyra Collier was selected as a Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team choice, while Tori Lasker was named to the Preseason Second Team. Little Rock has endured a tough schedule to open the year, taking on No. 6/7 Texas A&M, Rice and LSU. The Trojan’s first win came against head coach Joe Foley’s alma matter Central Arkansas in a 63-48 victory. Through the first four games, Collier leads the Trojans with 15.8 points per game, 10 assists and five steals. Krystan Varnes leads the way in rebounds with 5.5 boards per game.
History Against the Trojans:
FAU has never beaten Little Rock, as the Trojans have won each of the past 10 games. When FAU was in the Sun Belt, the two teams squared off at least once a year from 2007-13, along with a 59-42 loss in the 2012 Sun Belt Tournament Semifinals. The closest the Owls have been to knocking off the Trojans came in 2007, as FAU fell in a close one, 60-57. Last season, the Owls traveled to Little Rock for the first road game of the year, but ultimately fell to the Trojans, 61-38. Amber Gaston led the way with six points, while Abby Voss followed with five.
Upcoming:
FAU will hit the road one last time in 2019 to face Central Michigan on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Owls will be back at The Burrow for the annual Thanksgiving Tournament held from Friday, Nov. 29 to Saturday, Nov. 30. For tickets, call 1-800-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 3-0 in bowl games, the most recent being a 50-3 victory over Akron in the 2017 Cheribundi Tart Cherry 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, visit www.fau.edu.
