Florida Atlantic University Athletics
FAU Women's Basketball Opens Conference Play This Weekend
12/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 9, 2008
Florida Atlantic at Denver
Magness Arena (7,200) - Denver, Colorado
Saturday, December 13 - 3 p.m. ET
GAME EIGHT: The Florida Atlantic women's basketball team hopes to get back on the winning track after a ten-day layoff due to final exams. The Owls host the Pioneers of Denver on Saturday, December 13 at 3 p.m. eastern.
THE SERIES: Denver leads the series 3-0. The two teams met once last year in Boca Raton in a game that was moved to the De Hoernle Center at Lynn University due to the Republican Presidential debates which took place on the FAU Boca Raton campus that evening. Denver defeated the Owls that night 69-53.
RADIO/INTERNET: Steve Bishop will call the action on Saturday beginning at 2:45 p.m. Live streaming audio is available for free on www.fausports.com.
FREQUENT FLYERS: The Owls are in the second game of their longest trip of the year in terms of travel. FAU will travel 6,756 miles round trip from Boca Raton to Chicago and Denver.
RPI ON THE RISE: Tough competition in the first seven games has led to the rise in FAU's RPI rankings. The Owls currently have an RPI of 83 according to realtimerpi.com. What really stands out is the Owls strength of schedule, which is currently ranked 18th in the nation. FAU has faced three teams in the RPI top-ten this year, undefeated UIC (5), and Big XII foes Baylor (9) and Texas (10).
FLORIDA ATLANTIC: FAU had a tough time putting the ball into the basket on Wednesday, December 3 against UIC. The Owls only made 26 percent (16-60) of their shots from the field in a 53-40 loss to the Flames in Chicago. FAU was able to stay in the game as they held UIC to 33 percent shooting and forced 19 turnovers. Carla Stubbs (Miami/Jackson HS) had her fourth straight double-digit scoring output, pouring in 13 points despite being in foul trouble through much of the second half and only playing 24 minutes. Jessica Knurick (Commerce, MI/Seminole CC) added a career-high 11 rebounds for the Owls.
DENVER: Denver currently sits at 2-4 overall coming into this week after a 67-56 loss at Columbia on Saturday. The Pioneers shoot the ball well, averaging 46 percent from the field. However, hanging on to the ball is something Denver has struggled with, as the Pioneers have committed 21.5 turnovers per game. Junior Ashly Robinson leads the Pioneers in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 10.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, she is also a 91 percent free-throw shooter.
STUBBS CONTINUES TO PAY OFF: Since being re-inserted in the starting lineup against UCF on November 22, Carla Stubbs has returned to the form that led to her being named All-Sun Belt Third Team last season. Over the last five games, Stubbs has averaged 13.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Among the noteworthy perfomances was a 12 point, nine rebound game in the win over Bethune-Cookman November 25, and a 13 point performance against UIC on December 3.
NEXT UP: The Owls will travel to Nassau, Bahamas for the Sunsplash Shootout. FAU will play two games in the Bahamas, beginning on Thursday, December 18 against Mercer at 4 p.m.
