Basketball Downs Saint Leo in Exhibition

Friday, November 5

Boca Raton, Fla.

6 PM

Florida Atlantic

-00,00 CUSA

Saint Leo (Exhibition)

0-0,0-0Sunshine State

Saint Leo

Fla. Atlantic

2021 FAU Women’s Basketball vs North Florida

Photo by: ©JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

11/5/2021 9:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University women's basketball team hosted its lone exhibition against Saint Leo on Friday night to win 75-60. FAU scored 36 points in the fourth quarter while going 17-for-19 from the charity stripe in the frame to secure the win. Four Owls ended with double digits in scoring with Amber Gaston (17 points and 11 rebounds) and Janeta Rozentale (11 points and 10 rebounds) logging double-doubles in Jennifer Sullivan's first game coaching at Abessinio Court at FAU Arena.

How It Was Decided

1Q
The Owls came out strong on an 8-0 run with four points each from Gaston and Rita Pleskevich. Saint Leo tied up the game at nine on two free throws with 2:23 remaining in the game, but FAU closed out on a 6-0 run capped off by two Sofia Galeron baskets to take a 15-9 lead after 10 minutes of play.

2Q
FAU came out strong to begin the second quarter an 8-2 run, Juliette Gauthier cashed in on a 3-pointer, as the Owls led 23-11 with 6:17 left in the first half. Saint Leo came within eight points with under a minute to go, but a Pleskevich 3-pointer put the Owls back ahead by double digits, 26-15. After a Saint Leo basket, FAU still retained the lead, 26-17.

3Q
The Owls kept feeding Gaston and continued to do so out of the break, as she opened up the third quarter with a layup. Saint Leo came out of halftime with some fire and FAU found itself up by just two points, 32-30, with 4:56 left in the third. Following a missed jumper by Saint Leo, Rozentale delivered a huge 3-pointer off an assist from Kynadi Kuykendoll with 3:40 remaining. This play was part of a 9-0 run to close out the frame. FAU went into the final quarter with a 39-30 edge.

4Q
The fourth quarter was full of plenty of offense, as both teams scored in the 30-mark in the frame. Saint Leo found its stride behind the 3-point line, hitting two straight treys to open up the quarter. With 8:16 left in the game, Saint Leo tied the game at 41 off a 3-pointer. Gaston's putback basket allowed the Owls to creep back ahead, but another Saint Leo 3-pointer gave the Lions the lead for the first time in the game. Kimia Carter nailed a 3-pointer from the left corner to put the Owls up 51-46 with 4:40 left. Saint Leo came within one point, 51-50, with 4:09 on the clock, but nine straight points scored by FAU gave the team some big momentum. In the final stretch, Zaph went 8-8 from the line and Rozentale made big shots to help the Owls put the game in the bag. FAU won the exhibition, 75-60.

Game Notes

Gaston led the Owls with 17 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. She shot 57.1 from the field
Pleskevich logged 16 points and six boards while shooting 7-for-13 from the field
Zaph ended with 15 points while shooting 13-14 from the line (92.9 percent)
Rozentale produced 11 points and 10 boards
Galeron pulled down 10 boards while adding seven points
Carter, Kuykendoll and Henshaw made their Owl debuts

Up Next

FAU will host Palm Beach Atlantic for the home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased hereor by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS.

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