Owls Drop C-USA Contest at Marshall 66-59

Saturday, January 17

Huntington, W.V.

1:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

8-8, 2-3

Marshall

11-5, 3-2

Florida Atlantic

Marshall

1/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Jan. 17, 2015

Final Stats

HUNTINGTON, W. Va. - First-half shooting struggles proved to be the demise of the Florida Atlantic University women's basketball team as the Owls lost their third consecutive Conference USA game at Marshall 66-59 on Saturday.

Junior Ali Gorrell recorded her third double-double of the season, leading the Owls (8-8, 2-3 C-USA) with 19 points and ten rebounds. Sophomore Shaneese Bailey had 16 points, ten of which came from the free throw line.

Gorrell scored eight of FAU's first ten points to give the Owls a 10-6 advantage early. Marshall then went on a 10-0 run to take a six point lead midway through the first half. Two Gorrell free throws would cut the lead to five points minutes later, but the Herd (11-5, 3-2 C-USA) finished the half on a 9-2 run to hold a 29-17 lead at halftime.

FAU's 17 points is the fewest in a half since it hit the same mark against Arkansas-Little Rock on Feb. 23, 2013.

The Owls went on a 17-5 run early in the second half, culminating in a layup by Bailey to give FAU a 46-45 lead with 7:52 to play. Again, the Owls went cold from the field, missing their next six shots and committing three turnovers over the next five minutes, allowing Marshall to build up a 59-49 lead with 2:36 on the clock.

A layup by Gorrell would make it a six-point game with 35 seconds to play, but the Owls could get no closer.

FAU returns home to host FIU on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 5 p.m. at FAU Arena. For tickets, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or visit FAUSports.com.