Owls third-quarter rally falls short in first home loss against WKU

Monday, January 16

Boca Raton, Fla.

7 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

10-6,3-4CUSA

WKU

8-8,5-2CUSA

Western Ky.

Fla. Atlantic

Owls third-quarter rally falls short in first home loss against WKU

1/16/2023 11:27:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Jada Moore led the Owls with a career-high 17 points

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic Owls' (10-6, 3-4 C-USA) third-quarter rally fell just short on Monday, dropping a 76-66 battle against the WKU Lady Toppers at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FAU struck first to open the contest as Joiya Maddox and Alexa Zaph scored to help the Owls get out to a quick 4-0 lead two minutes into the contest. Zaph knocked down the Owls first 3-pointer of the contest at the 7:03-minute mark to keep the FAU lead at four, 7-3, but back-to-back Lady Toppers' field goals brought the game even at seven with 5:23 to play in the first. Aniya Hubbard hit a fadeaway jumper to put the Owls back in front by two, 9-7, but the Lady Toppers closed out the quarter on a 17-2 run over the final four minutes of play to give WKU a 24-11 advantage after the opening period.

The Owls traded baskets with the Lady Toppers to open the second. Zaph connected on a fastbreak layup after a steal from Maddox to keep the deficit at 13, 17-30, with 5:53 to play in the half. But the Owls just couldn't find an answer to the Lady Toppers, as WKU outscored FAU 9-5 over the final five minutes of the second quarter to close out the half and send the teams into the locker room with WKU leading by 17 at the break, 39-22.

The Owls looked to flip the script in the second half. The Owls traded baskets with the Lady Toppers to open the third period, but WKU extended its advantage to 19, off a pair of free throws, at the 8:45-minute mark to make it 45-26. Staring down a 19-point deficit, it was at that point that the Owls locked in over the next five minutes of clock. Joiya Maddox sparked the Owls run, scoring back-to-back baskets, to kick off an impressive 17-0 run from the Owls that was capped off by a 3-pointer by Jada Moore, her first of the contest and tying her for a season-high 11 points, to bring the Owls back within two at 43-45 after the incredible rally. Sofia Galeron knocked down her second 3-pointer of the day to keep the Owls within two at 48-50, and a pair of free throws from Janeta Rozentale at 52-50 once again put the Owls within a possession of taking the lead, but the Lady Toppers responded including a last-second jumper from Acacia Hayes to extend the WKU lead back to five, 57-52, entering the final 10 minutes of play.

WKU opened the fourth on a 7-1 run to kick the Lady Toppers' lead back out to 11, 64-53, over the first two minutes of the final period. The Owls battled back to cut the deficit down to just two possessions at 69-64 following a pair of free throws from Galeron, however that was as close as the Owls would get as the Lady Toppers would ride a 7-2 run through the final minute to bring the game to its 76-66 final.

QUOTABLE

"Disappointing outcome tonight, because I thought we had a chance to win it," expressed head coach Jennifer Sullivan. "I thought we were pretty flat in the first half. I was proud of their fight in the third quarter, that was our best performance in a quarter against a C-USA team, and for just being really aggressive in the second half. Disappointed with the first half start, kind of seeing that same half at North Texas, but just really proud of this team's fight and having the opportunity to win after being down by as many as we were."

NOTES AND TEAM STATS

Jada Moore finished with a career-best 17 points, shooting 67 percent (8-of-12) from the field and 33 percent (1-of-3) from 3-point range. Moore tied for a game-high seven boards, while also adding two assists and a pair of steals.
Sofia Galeron also scored double-digits for the Owls, dropping 13 points on 60 percent (3-of-5) from 3-point range and 80 percent (4-of-5) from the charity stripe. Galeron tied Moore for a game-high seven boards, while also dishing out an assist, grabbing a steal, and blocking a shot in the contest.
The Owls played phenomenally in the third quarter, outscoring the Lady Toppers 30-18, to post FAU's best quarter against a DI or C-USA opponent during the Coach Sullivan era, with the only better quarter coming earlier this season against NAIA Florida National, which saw the Owls score 34 points in the opening period.
FAU also outrebounded WKU 30-28, including a 9-7 advantage on the offensive glass.

UP NEXT

The Owls continue their three-game homestand on Thursday as they welcome the UTSA Roadrunners to Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena for a 7 p.m. tip.

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