BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University women's basketball team (5-3) lost to Kansas (7-0) in the FAU Thanksgiving Tournament Championship game. The Owls were within five points of the Jayhawks at the half, but dropped Saturday afternoon's tilt, 90-60.
FAU got things started with a 3-ponter by
Juliette Gauthier and a layup put in by
Crystal Primm. The Owls were within one point of the Jayhawks with the score at 9-8, but Kansas would then go on a 10-0 scoring run. Gauthier broke the drought by putting down two free throws, but the Owls still trailed the Jayhawks 24-10 after one quarter of play.
The Owls trailed by as many as 20 points in the beginning of the second quarter, but a three-point play by Gauthier got an 11-0 run going for FAU.
Abby Voss grabbed a big offensive rebound to put in a layup, and then a three-point play by Primm capped off a 19-4 run for FAU. Right before the half,
Nikola Ozola hit a 3-pointer to put the Owls within distance at the half, 42-37.
Tanyia Gordon put the Owls on the board after 3:20 of play in the third. Gordon had her shot blocked, but got her own rebound to set up for a three-point basket, which she nailed. The Owls were outscored by the Jayhawks, 23-10 in the third, as FAU trailed 65-47.
The Owls were looking for a big comeback, but the Jayhawks went on a 16-4 run in the first half of the fourth quarter. FAU fought until the buzzer, as Gauthier came up with a three-point play and
Allie Tylka earned a trip to the line twice with less than a minute of the game. Ultimately, the Owls fell to the undefeated Jayhawks, 90-60.
- Gauthier led the Owls with 18 points with three 3-pointers and five boards. She played almost the entire contest with 38 minutes
- Vehka-Aho followed with 13 points
- Primm was the third Owl in double digits with 11 points, four rebounds and two steals
- Abby Voss came up at big moments, tallying seven points and three rebounds
- Nikola Ozola had a game-leading four assists
Angel Baker – Wright State
Stephanie Karcz – Loyola Maryland
Lotta Vehka-Aho – Florida Atlantic
Juliette Gauthier – Florida Atlantic
Tina Stephens – Kansas
Brooklyn Mitchell (MVP) – Kansas
FAU will take about two weeks off before their next matchup against Central Connecticut State on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. For tickets, call 1-800-FAU-OWLS or visit the main
FAU Women's Basketball ticket page.
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