Second-Half Spurt Lifts Michigan over Women's Basketball

Monday, November 14

Ann Arbor, MICH.

6:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

1-1

Michigan

2-0

Florida Atlantic

Michigan

11/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Nov. 14, 2011

Final Stats

Ann Arbor, MI - The Florida Atlantic University women's basketball team could not hold onto a four-point halftime advantage, falling 73-51 to the University of Michigan in Crisler Arena at Ann Arbor, Mich. It was the Owls' first-ever game with the Wolverines and second against a Big Ten Conference opponent.

FAU led 28-24 at the half as sophomore guard Takia Brooks scored 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including three 3-point field goals. Both team battled back and forth throughout the first 20 minutes before the Owls took a 20-18 lead with 4:09 left following two successful free throws from senior guard DaLita Scott. A 3-point field goal by sophomore guard Latavia Dempsey gave the Florida visitors their biggest lead, 25-20, at the 2:10 mark of the first half.

FAU's first-half effort was commendable as front-court starters Chenise Miller and April Goins were saddled with foul trouble for most of the period. Miller, an Oak Park, Mich., native would foul out of the game after scoring eight points.

Michigan picked up the pace offensively and defensively in the second half, getting back-to-back three-point field goals from Carmen Reynolds to take a 30-28 lead.

Then, the taller Wolverines used a 15-3 run over a five-minute span midway through the second half to break the game open. FAU senior guard Teri Stamps' 3-point field goal cut the deficit to nine points at the 8:55 mark. However, that's as close as the Owls would get for the rest of the game.

Brooks once again sparked the FAU offense, setting a career high for the second straight game with a team-high 17 points. Dempsey also scored in double figures with 12 points, while Scott chipped in nine points.

Michigan's Rachel Sheffler paced the team's offensive attack with a game-high 20 points. Courtney Boylan added 18 points, while Reynolds scored eight points.

FAU falls to 1-1 on the season and returns to the court on Friday, November 18, starting at 7 p.m. against Webber International University from the FAU Arena, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus. Michigan improves to 2-0 on the season and beat a Florida team for the second straight game. The Wolverines opened the year with a road victory at the University of Florida.

Live audio and statistics of Friday's game can be seen at www.fausports.com. For season and single-game tickets call the FAU Ticket Office at 1-866-FAU-OWLS.