Owls Earn Double-Figure Home-Opening Win Over Mercer

Saturday, November 9

Boca Raton, Fla.

2 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

1-1,0-0AAC

Mercer

1-1,0-0SoCon

Mercer

Fla. Atlantic

11/9/2024 7:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic women's basketball opened up its 2024-25 home season on Saturday, earning a double-figure win, 58-48, against the Mercer Bears inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

The Owls improve to 1-1 on the season, while Mercer drops to 1-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Mercer scored first, opening the contest on a 4-0 run. However, Mya Perry answered back for the Owls, knocking down her first triple of the contest and adding a layup off a steal from Stefanie Ingram to put the Owls in front, 5-4. The Bears held an 8-7 advantage before Florida Atlantic scored eight unanswered through the 1:28-minute mark to lead 15-8. The Owls maintained a five-point advantage after the end of the first, 15-10.

Jada Moore and Ta'Ziah Jenks tacked on three more for the Owls to open the second, 18-10. Following a score from the Bears, Perry knocked down her second 3-pointer of the day to spark another 8-0 Owl run to push Florida Atlantic's lead to double-figures, 26-12, at the 6:45-minute mark of the second. Mercer responded with a run of their own, outscoring the Owls 7-2 through the end of the second, but the Owls took a nine-point advantage into the halftime break, 28-19.

Mya Perry opened the second half scoring for the Owls, 30-19, however, Mercer produced a 6-0 run to cut the Florida Atlantic lead to five, 30-25. Erin Rodgers sparked an 8-3 Florida Atlantic run, scoring seven points for the Owls, to push the Owls back in front by 11, 38-27. The Owls and Bears traded back-to-back triples to close out the quarter as Florida Atlantic held the 41-30 advantage entering the final 10 minutes of play.

A layup from Jenks and a free throw from Alana Rouser opened the fourth, 44-30. Mercer tried to rally, going on an 11-5 run to cut the Owls lead to eight, 49-41, but a layup and pair of free throws from Perry and a dagger 3-pointer from Kristina Godfrey kept the Owls advantage at double-figures, 56-43, with 1:47 to play. The Bears scored five unanswered to cut the deficit back to eight, but it was too little too late as Perry tacked on another pair of free throws to eventually seal the 58-48 win.

NOTES AND TEAM STATS

Mya Perry led the Owls offensively with a team-leading 18 points, while Erin Rodgers also finished in double-figures for the Owls with 11 points.
Rodgers led Florida Atlantic defensively, collecting a game-high and career-best eight rebounds and five steals.
Stefanie Rodgers dished out a game-high five assists
Florida Atlantic outscored Mercer in the first quarter, 15-10, second quarter, 13-9, and third quarter, 13-11.
The Owls also held advantages in second-chance points, 12-9, and off points in transition, 13-4.
Florida Atlantic outshot Mercer from beyond the arc, 43.8 percent to 12.5 percent, and from the field, 38.3 percent to 32.7 percent.
The win snapped a five-game skid for the Owls against the Mercer Bears.

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