Women's Basketball's Rally Comes Up Short

Thursday, January 17

Boca Raton, Fla.

7 PM

Florida Atlantic

3-15, 0-5

Marshall

9-8, 3-1

MARSHALL

FAU

Photo by: ©JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

1/17/2019 10:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – If you were inside FAU Arena on Thursday night, you were probably biting your fingernails. The Florida Atlantic University women's basketball team (3-15, 0-5 C-USA) came down to the wire with Marshall (9-8, 3-1 C-USA) in a game that featured six ties and a couple of lead changes. One of those ties came with 23 seconds left in the game, but the Thundering Herd prevailed, 72-67.

HOW IT WAS DECIDED

Marshall raced out to a 5-0 lead to start the game, but a layup from Juliette Gauthier put the Owls on the board. After trading baskets, FAU took its first lead at the 6:15 mark on a 3-pointer from Myka Johnson Matthews. From there, the game was tied three times and there were two lead changes, but Marshall scored just before the buzzer to take a 22-20 lead into the second quarter
After a close first period, the Herd used hot shooting to outscore FAU, 23-14, in the second. Johnson Matthews got a floater to go in the paint at the 9:05 mark to tie up the score for the fourth time in the game, but Marshall showed poise with a 14-0 run. That run was made up by a barrage of 3-pointers. The Herd hit four three's in the span of 2:09. FAU showed their own poise, putting up 10 points to Marshall's five to finish out the half
At the 6:12 mark in the third quarter, Marshall took its largest lead on a 3-pointer from leading-scorer Shayna Gore. The Owls immediately went to work at chipping away that lead, closing out the period on an 8-0 run. Jayla Adams drew the Owls within single digits on a corner three with a little over a minute left in the frame
Amber Gaston stretched that run into the final quarter with an and-one to cut it to five. After baskets from both teams, Adams once again came in clutch with a trey to cut the score to two. The Owls were able to tie it up, but Marshall responded with a 5-0 run to push back ahead. FAU once again begin to chip away and tied the game with 23 seconds left after Johnson Matthews made a diving steal and was fouled. She hit both free throws to knot things up. Marshall ended the game scoring five-straight to escape with a win

COACH JABIR POSTGAME

GAME NOTES

Johnson Matthews led all Owl scorers with 17 points in the contest, including the two free throws that tied the game with 23 seconds left. She was a perfect 3-of-3 from the charity stripe. She also added four rebounds, three steals and an assist
Gauthier was the second leading scorer with 14 points. She also had seven rebounds, two steals and an assist
Glenisha Harkless was one point shy of double digits. She filled out the box score, finishing with nine points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals. Her six assists were a career high. Harkless passed 100 points this season during the game, standing at 103 for the year
After giving up six 3-pointers in the first half, the Owls clamped down defensively and held Marshall to just two three's in the second half
The Owls seemed to have gotten out of a scoring hump, scoring 67 points in the game. That mark is the most for FAU since Dec. 20 against Michigan State
FAU continues its streak of games with a 3-point field goal to 270 consecutive games with seven in the contest
Attacking the glass was a priority for the Owls and they pulled down 33 boards, outrebounding the Herd by one. That's the first time in seven games the Owls have achieved that feat
The Owls were 16-of-23 from the free throw line. Sixteen made free throws ties the Owls' season high
Jabir's trademark high-tempo offense is starting to show signs with the young squad. FAU got eight fast break points and held Marshall to zero

UP NEXT
FAU's three-game homestand will continue on Saturday with WKU. The Owls and Lady Toppers will tip off at 2 p.m.

TICKETS
For tickets, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or visit FAUSports.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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