Owls Fall to AAC-leader North Texas

Wednesday, February 14

Boca Raton, Fla.

7 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

8-16,3-10AAC

North Texas

19-5,9-3AAC

North Texas

Fla. Atlantic

Photo by: JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

2/14/2024 11:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic Owls (8-16, 3-10 AAC) fourth-quarter rally fell just short on Thursday as the Owls dropped a 67-57 battle against the AAC-leading North Texas Mean Green (19-5, 9-3 AAC) inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

HOW IT HAPPENED

North Texas opened the contest on an 11-5 run to lead by six. The Owls battled back, producing a 7-0 run over the following two minutes of clock to take their first lead of the contest at 12-11 with 2:18 to go in the first. The Mean Green scored once more before the end of the first as the Owls trailed by just a point after the first, 13-12.

The Mean Green kicked their lead back out to eight to open the second, but a triple from Alexa Zaph and a pair of jumpers from Janeta Rozentale and Mya Perry brought the Owls back within three, 22-19, with 5:42 to play in the half. North Texas closed the half outscoring the Owls 13-4 to hold a 35-23 lead at the break.

The Owls opened the second half on a 5-2 run to cut the deficit back to single digits, 37-28, however North Texas scored 14 unanswered to extend their lead to the largest of the contest, 51-28. Florida Atlantic was able to hold the Mean Green scoreless over the final two minutes of the third as Rozentale netted a free throw to close out the third, 51-29.

North Texas pushed their lead back to 23, 55-32, through the 8:55-minute mark of the fourth, however the Owls locked in over the final eight minutes of play, mounting a 25-12 run, however it wasn't enough as the Owls eventually ran out of time, falling 67-57.

HEAD COACH JENNIFER SULLIVAN POSTGAME THOUGHTS

"One of our more disappointing performances. I didn't feel like we competed at a high enough level. A lot of credit to North Texas, they're a good basketball team, but I definitely think we had a chance. But it's just execution on both sides of the floor. From the start of the game, being ready for their pressure, taking care of the basketball, finishing in the paint, our ball movement. I think turnovers were the biggest struggle for us to settle in offensively, but credit to them, I think they're doing a terrific job. Excited about our fight there in the fourth, but definitely think we can continue to improve."

NOTES AND TEAM STATS

Alexa Zaph and Mya Perry led the Owls against North Texas.
Zaph scored a team-high 18 points, shooting 50 percent (6-of-12) from the field and 67 percent (6-of-9) from 3-point range. She also added four boards, two assists, and a steal.
Perry scored a team second-best 11 points, shooting going 3-of-12 from the field and a perfect 100 percent (4-of-4) at the line. She also tallied two rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
Janeta Rozentale led the Owls on the boards with a team-high eight, while Dyllan Hanna finished second with seven.
Florida Atlantic rallied in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Mean Green 28-16.

UP NEXT

Florida Atlantic women's basketball will head back out on the road as they prepare to take on in-state rival USF for a 7 p.m. tip on Saturday, Feb. 17 inside the Yuengling Center.

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