Women's Basketball Drops C-USA Battle 89-80 at Southern Miss

Thursday, January 14

Hattiesburg, Miss.

9:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

10-5, 2-2

Southern Miss

9-6, 2-2

Florida Atlantic

Southern Miss

Women's Basketball Drops C-USA Battle 89-80 at Southern Miss

1/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Jan. 15, 2016

Final Stats

HATTIESBURG, Miss. â€" Despite 23 second-half points by senior Ali Gorrell, the Florida Atlantic University women's basketball team couldn't overcome a hot start by Southern Miss, dropping its second consecutive Conference USA game to the Golden Eagles 89-80.

The Owls (10-5, 2-2 C-USA) made 12 three-pointers on the night, bringing their Conference USA total to 49 over the course of four games.

"We've got to play better defense," FAU Head Coach Kellie Lewis-Jay said. "We can't let kids get confident early then it becomes a long game for us."

Sophomore Sasha Cedeno scored back-to-back three pointers early for FAU, but the Golden Eagles (9-6, 2-2 C-USA) started 9-for-9 from the field to go up by as many as six in the first quarter. Junior Kat Wright made a three with just under a minute left to cut the advantage to 26-25 at the end of the first.

A 12-3 run by Southern Miss in the second gave the Golden Eagles a lead of eight before a Morgan Robinson three cut the lead to five. After a turnover in the final seconds, USM's Jerontay Clemons made a layup with nine seconds left to send the game to the half at 48-41, Golden Eagles.

Gorrell scored ten of FAU's 15 third-quarter points, including eight from the free throw line as the Owls were held to just three baskets in the frame as the Golden Eagles extended the lead to 14 at the break.

After Southern Miss went up by 17 at 78-61, an 11-2 run by FAU got the advantage down to single digits at 80-72 with 2:26 to play. The Golden Eagles went more than seven minutes without scoring a basket, but FAU struggled to get shots to fall as well as USM held on for the 89-80 victory.

Gorrell's 14 free throws was the second most in FAU history as the senior posted 25 points on the night.

The Owls take on Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. ET. Live audio is available on FAUSports.com.