BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University women's basketball team (1-0) took care of business in Monday's home opener against North Florida (0-3) with a 93-81 win. Five Owls racked up double digits in scoring behind
Allie Tylka's career-high 19 points.
1Q
Lotta Vekha-Aho got the show started, going 2-for-2 from beyond the arc to put the Owls up, 11-10 after three minutes of play. FAU took advantage of UNF's four turnovers within a three minute stretch to go on a 13-5 run. With six seconds left in the frame, UNF scored a 3-pointer to creep closer to FAU and make it a 24-20 game.
2Q
Astou Gaye opened up the quarter with a 3-pointer and after a three-minute scoring drought,
Iggy Allen took over the show. The graduate transfer tallied back-to-back-to-back baskets to score seven points in 71 seconds to lengthen the Owls' lead to 38-25 with 2:01 to play. FAU went into the locker room with a 10 point lead, 40-30.
3Q
FAU kicked off the third quarter by going on a 9-2 run in the first four minutes of the quarter.
Alexa Zaph then hit a 3-pointer to put the Owls up, 54-31. With two minutes left in the frame, Gaye's second-chance layup got the Owls on a 9-1 scoring drive, which included Tylka's third 3-pointer of the game.
Janeta Rozentale made a jumper off a turnover and
Bre Beck sank two free throws to cap off the quarter. The Owls outscored the Ospreys 27-17 behind 47.8 percent shooting from the field in the third.
4Q
The Owls were outscored 34-26 in the fourth quarter, as three Owls were fouled out in the quarter. UNF creeped within four points with 1:49 left to play, but Vehka-Aho stole the ball and got fouled on the other end. The sophomore sunk both free throws to put the Owls up by six points. After a missed UNF 3-pointer, Tylka delivered a layup with 50 seconds left off the clock with the Owls leading, 87-79. In the final 50 seconds of play, FAU outscored the Ospreys 6-2 to elevate to a 93-81 win.
- Five Owls tallied double digits in scoring
- Tylka led the Owls with a career-high 19 points
- In her Owl debut, Allen delivered an amazing stat line with a collegiate career-high 18 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals
- Vehka-Aho tallied 14 points along with three assists in her first game back since early February
- Zaph tallied 11 points with five rebounds and five assists
- Gaye earned her fourth career double-double with less than a minute to go in the game. The senior ended the night with 11 points and 13 rebounds
- Beck added seven points in her Owl debut
- Janeta Rozentale was hot off the glass with six points, nine rebounds and two blocks
- The Owls outrebounded the Ospreys 53-40 and had 19 assists to UNF's 12
"I'm happy with our scoring output, but I know we have a long way to go in our offensive game and consistent defensive effort," said head coach
Jim Jabir. "But overall, I'm very happy with the win."
FAU will head down I-95 south to face Miami on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
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