BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic women's basketball team (11-9, 4-7 C-USA) returns to Paradise this week as the Owls will look to host the UAB Blazers (10-10, 2-9 C-USA) for a rematch on Thursday, Feb. 2. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.
FAU will look to bounce back and snap a three-game skid on Thursday as the Owls take on the UAB Blazers for a rematch from earlier this season that saw FAU fall 75-47. The Owls are in their second season under head coach
Jennifer Sullivan, who has led the Owls to a 16-34 record over her two-year career in Boca Raton.
The Owls are paced by
Aniya Hubbard, who is just coming off her second career double-double against WKU and is averaging a team-best 13.4 points per game.
Joiya Maddox has scored a team second-best 9.1 points per game, while
Janeta Rozentale rounds out the Owls top three scorers, posting 8.9 points per game this season. Hubbard leads the Owls in assists, dishing out 2.45 assists per game, and steals, collecting 2.35 per contest. Rozentale leads FAU on the boards, pulling down a team-best 6.2 rebounds per game, as well as blocks, recording 0.7 blocks per game in 2022-23.
As a team, the Owls pace Conference USA in 3-point percentage defense (.271) and rebounds per game (40.9), rank second in rebounding margin (5.4) and defensive rebounds per game (27.2), fourth in scoring defense (63.6), field goal percentage defense (39.1), offensive rebounds per game (13.6), and steals per game (8.3), and fifth in winning percentage (.550), turnovers forced per game (17.1), free throws made per game (13.9), and free throw attempts per game (20.5).
- National Girls and Women in Sports Day Game
- Free girl power wrist bands for all fans (while supplies last)
- Free admission for kids with club or youth team jersey
The Blazers enter Thursday's matchup at 10-10 overall and 2-9 in C-USA play and are currently on a two-game skid after dropping a 62-67 battle against LA Tech and a 67-57 contest against the Rice Owls. UAB is in its 10th season under head coach Randy Norton, who has amassed a 173-122 record over his 10 seasons in Birmingham.
The Blazers are led by Denim DeShields and Margaret Whitley, who average 13.6 and 11.7 points per game each, respectively. DeShields also leads UAB in assists per game, dishing out 4.7 assists per game, as well as pulling down 2.9 rebounds per contest. Maria Roters has pulled down a team-best 5.1 rebounds per game this season, while also leading the Blazers in steals, grabbing 1.05 steals per contest. Sara Bershers leads the Blazers in blocks this season, blocking 0.6 shots per game so far this season.
As a team, the Blazers rank first in Conference USA in 3-pointers per game (8.6), defensive rebounds per game (28.6), and assists per game (14.4), second in assist/turnover ratio (1.0). 3-point percentage (.341), and 3-point attempts per game (25.4), third in scoring offense (72.9), scoring margin (5.1), turnovers per game (14.4), field goal percentage defense (.390), and 3-point percentage defense (.286), fourth in field goal percentage (.428) and free throw percentage (.715), and fifth in rebounds per game (37.0).
UAB leads the all-time series between the Owls and the Blazers, 12-3, including a 5-1 record for contests played in Boca Raton. The Owls are on a two-game skid against the Blazers, including a 75-47 loss earlier this season on Jan. 5, 2023.
The Owls host the Charlotte 49ers on Saturday, Feb. 4 for their Play4Kay and Alumni Day game. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.
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