BOCA RATON, Fla. – (Nov. 23, 2019) – The Florida Atlantic University women’s basketball team (3-2) will take on their final road game in 2019 to wrap up a busy week of games. This time, the Owls will face Western Michigan (2-1) with tipoff set for 1 p.m. at Read Fieldhouse/University Arena.
About the Owls:
FAU is looking for its third straight win on Sunday afternoon, as the Owls are riding high after winning their first two home games. In those victories, FAU beat Siena in the Owls’ home opener 83-39, the largest margin of victory in the Jim Jabir era and since 2013. The Owls kept the momentum rolling into Thursday’s matchup, taking down a strong Little Rock team for the first time in school history, 79-72.
Crystal Primm continues to lead the way in scoring after five games, averaging 17.4 points per game, which is ranked fifth in Conference USA. Juliette Gauthier follows with 11.4 points per game, while being tied with Primm for most rebounds, each pulling down about 8.2 per game. Lotta Vehka-Aho leads the team in assists with 22 and steals with 11, while also averaging 11.2 points per game.
Last Time Out:
The Owls earned a historical victory on Thursday night, taking down former Sun Belt foe Little Rock for the first time in school history. Going into the game, the Owls were 0-10 against the Trojans. The Owls had the lead for all but one time in the game, with FAU stretching their lead out to 16 in the opening part of the third quarter. However, as Little Rock was fighting their way back into the game, the Trojans cut the Owls’ lead to just three points with less than two minutes left in the game. The Owls tenacious defense did not allow Little Rock to come up with a chance for the game-tying basket and FAU prevailed, 79-72.
Primm had herself a night, recording a career-high 31 points, including two 3-pointers and 11 free throws. The graduate transfer also posted seven rebounds and four steals. Freshman Vehka-Aho was also unstoppable, tallying a career-high 21 points and three 3-pointers, as well as four rebounds and three steals. Juliette Gauthier also recorded a double-digit scoring game, her fourth consecutive one, after totaling 11 points and seven rebounds. The Owls made a season-high 27 free throws, and now lead C-USA in free throws made and attempts.
Scouting Western Michigan:
The Broncos were projected to finish sixth in the Mid-American West Division Conference poll, as voted on by the league’s head coaches. Redshirt senior Breanna Mobley was selected as a Preseason All-MAC West Division Team choice. She took a medical redshirt last season, but the year before that, Mobley averaged 16.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, while earning a spot in the 1,000-point club. Similar to the Owls, the Broncos are on a two-game home-winning streak after taking down Kentucky State (80-41) and Detroit Mercy (82-67). The Broncos’ only loss came at Michigan, 76-55. Through their first three games, Jordan Walker leads the team with 15.7 points per game. Three other Broncos are averaging double-digit scoring numbers, including Mobley (12.3 points and 10 rebounds per game), Karmin Reed (11 points per game) and Sydney Shafer (10 points per game).
History Against the Broncos:
Prior to Sunday, the Owls and Broncos have only squared off one other time, with that occurring last season in South Florida. Western Michigan beat FAU 69-59 to hold onto a 1-0 advantage over the Owls. In last year’s game, Gauthier led the Owls will 13 points, while putting up seven boards. Amber Gaston also added nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds. The Broncos have lost their two biggest scoring threats from the game to graduation, but Leighah-Amori Wool returns after putting up 11 points against the Owls a season ago.
Upcoming:
The Owls will return home for the annual Thanksgiving Tournament held from Friday, Nov. 29 to Saturday, Nov. 30. FAU will play Loyola Maryland at 2 p.m. on Friday. 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.
