FAU fought until final seconds in 66-65 loss at WKU

Saturday, January 28

Bowling Green, Ky.

3 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

-119,47 CUSA

WKU

-119,83 CUSA

Fla. Atlantic

Western Ky.

1/28/2023 7:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Florida Atlantic women's basketball (11-9, 4-7 C-USA) battled until the final seconds, falling just short 66-65 against the WKU Lady Toppers (11-9, 8-3 C-USA) on Saturday afternoon in Bowling Green.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Following a missed Lady Topper jumper, Joiya Maddox got things started for the Owls, connecting on a layup to put the Owls up first, 2-0. WKU closed the gap to take the 3-2 lead, but the Owls first 3-pointer of the day came by way of Alexa Zaph at the 8:29-minute mark to put the Owls back in front, 5-3. Over the following four minutes of clock, the Lady Toppers scored 12 unanswered points to take a 15-5 advantage into the first period media timeout. However, the Owls locked in heading out of the timeout. FAU mounted a run of its own, scoring 13 unanswered points over the last four minutes of the opening period, closed out by free throws from Devyn Scott, Jada Moore, and Aniya Hubbard to give the Owls an 18-15 lead after the first.

Alexa Zaph extended the Owls run to 15-0 off a layup to open up the second period, 20-15. FAU held a 24-20 lead at the second-quarter media timeout. Hubbard knocked down a layup to give the Owls a five-point advantage, 31-26, with 1:09 to play in the half. WKU connected on a pair of free throws to close out the half and send the teams into the locker room with FAU leading by three, 31-28.

WKU tied things up at 31 out of the halftime break. However, the Owls responded on a 10-2 run to retake an eight-point advantage at the 5:36-minute mark of the third, 41-33. WKU battled back to close the gap and eventually bring things even at 45-45 after a 12-4 run. The Lady Toppers outscored the Owls over the final minute of the third to put the Owls at a 50-49 deficit with 10 minutes to play.

Amber Gaston struck first on a hookshot in the fourth to put the Owls back in front, 51-50. The Owls tacked on a 3-pointer from Janeta Rozentale and a jumper from Hubbard to close out a 7-0 FAU run and give the Owls a 56-50 advantage with 8:13 to play. WKU responded with a 7-1 run of their own to bring even at 57 out of the final media timeout. The Owls evened things once again at 59 with 4:47 to play. The two teams traded baskets as a jumper from Moore put the Owls in front 61-59, and then a Moore 3-pointer made it 64-63 with 1:45 to play. WKU connected on a 3-pointer to lead 66-64. The Owls got one back off a free throw from Amber Gaston, but just couldn't get the final shot to fall as the Owls fell just short, 66-65.

QUOTABLE

"Disappointing outcome, but I'm extremely proud of our effort on the defensive end," expressed head coach Jennifer Sullivan. "This team has shown they can compete with the best in this league and there is a lot of ball left to be played. Turnovers and fouls have been our achilles heel. I believe when we improve in these areas we will consistently be on the winning side of games like today."

NOTES AND TEAM STATS

Jada Moore led the way for the Owls, tying her career-high with 17 points, a mark she made earlier this season against WKU, shooting 40 percent (4-of-10) from the field, including a perfect 100 percent (1-of-1) from 3-point range and 80 percent (8-of-10) from the free throw line. Moore also pulled down nine rebounds, collected a pair of steals, and dished out an assist.
Aniya Hubbard posted her second double-double of the season and scored a team second-best 15 points, shooting 36 percent (4-of-11) from the field, and going 88 percent (7-of-8) from the free throw line. She added 11 rebounds, while also collecting two assists, two blocks, and a steal.
Janeta Rozentale also scored double digits with 11 points, shooting 44 percent (4-of-9) from the field, including a perfect 100 percent (2-of-2) from 3-point range.
The Owls outshot the Lady Toppers 40 percent to 30.4 percent from the field, 55.6 percent to 27 percent from 3-point range, and 76.9 percent to 66.7 percent from the free throw line.
FAU also dominated in second-chance opportunities, outscoring WKU 21-7, as well as outrebounding WKU 51-35, including a dominant 32-15 advantage in defensive boards.
The Owls outscored WKU 18-15 in the opening period.

UP NEXT

The Owls return to Boca Raton next week as they host UAB on Thursday, Feb. 2 for their National Girls and Women in Sports Day game. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

FOLLOW THE OWLS

For updates, follow @FAUWBB on Twitter and Instagram, or like FAU Women's Basketball on Facebook.