Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Owls Slowly Improving
1/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
January 12, 2001
by Bob Gosman
Boca Raton News
Despite the FAU women's 3-10 record, Owls coach Chancellor Dugan is not unhappy with the way the year is shaping up.
"Our record doesn't reflect it, but I like where we are right now," she said. "Our non-conference schedule was very tough, and we're playing a lot harder than we have in the past."
Dugan always has been of the belief that a tough early-season schedule will pay dividends toward the end of the year.
"If you love the game of basketball, you want to play against great competition," Dugan said. "You don't want to beat somebody by 30. We hope our tough schedule will pay off. It's good to take the team on the road and see different things."
While the Owls benefited from playing nine of their first 12 games on the road, they're excited about finally playing some home games.
Beginning with Thursday's home game against Mercer, through a Jan. 27 meeting with visiting Georgia State, the Owls play four-of-six games in FAU gym.
FAU also is excited about the return of Chantale Jones. The junior point guard was academically ineligible for the first part of the season. She had 15 points and eight steals in her first game back Saturday, a 76-69 loss to Central Florida.
"She was the missing ingredient as far as intensity goes," Dugan said. "She takes so much pressure off our freshmen. She's a very enthusiastic player, and she'll really help us throughout the conference season."