BOCA RATON, Fla. – Saturday marks a big day for Florida Atlantic as the Owls (8-14, 3-8 AAC) host the Wichita State Shockers (6-17, 2-9 AAC) for their annual Play 4 Kay game and alumni day. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena and on ESPN+.
- Florida Atlantic enters this weekend's matchup at 7-14 overall and 3-8 in AAC play. The Owls are currently on a two-game winning streak, after earning wins against Rice, 68-63, and Charlotte, 66-55, and have won three of their last four games, which includes a 63-56 win against the Wichita State Shockers.
- As a team, the Owls rank in the top half of the AAC in a few different categories. The Owls rank third in 3-point field goal percentage (.327) and fouls per game (15.3), fifth in 3-pointers made per game (6.2) and bench points per game (22.0), and sixth in 3-point attempts per game (18.9) and free throw attempts per game (19.0).
- The Owls offense is led by Aniya Hubbard, who boasts a team-leading 19.2 points per game, and followed by Mya Perry, Jada Moore, and Janeta Rozentale, who average 11.8, 10.7, and 9.8 points per game, respectively.
- Hubbard also leads the Owls in steals, averaging 2.6 steals per game.
- Moore is the Owls' assists leader with 41 total assists this season, averaging 2.05 assists per game.
- The Owls picked up their third AAC win of the year, defeating the Charlotte 49ers 66-55 on the road following a dominant second-half effort.
- Florida Atlantic rallied from a six-point halftime deficit, 32-26, to outscore Charlotte 40-23 over the final two periods to claim the 11-point victory.
- Alexa Zaph and Jada Moore led the Owls against Charlotte.
- Zaph had her best performance of the season so far, tying a career-best 22 points, shooting 33 percent (5-of-15) from the field, 40 percent (4-of-10) from beyond the arc, and a perfect 100 percent (8-of-8) at the line. She also added a pair of steals and an assist.
- Moore also scored double-figures for the Owls, turning in 16 points against the 49ers. Moore shot 45 percent (5-of-11) from the field and 86 percent (6-of-7) at the line. She also grabbed a team second-best seven rebounds, in addition to tying for a team lead with three assists and grabbing a couple steals.
- Janeta Rozentale also had a great defensive effort for the Owls, pulling down a game-high 11 boards, while also narrowly missing a double-double with eight points.
- The Owls dominated Charlotte in the second half, outscoring the 49ers 40-23 during the final two periods.
- Florida Atlantic also held a huge advantage off second-chance points, outscoring the 49ers 17-7 in second-chance opportunities.
- The Owls' bench also dominated Charlotte, outscoring the 49ers reserves by more than double, 24-10.
- The win marked the Owls first against Charlotte since the 2020-21 season and snapped a five-game skid against the 49ers.
- Wichita State enters Saturday's contest at 6-17 overall and 2-9 in league play.
- As a team, the Shockers rank third in the AAC in 3-point percentage defense (.274), fifth in offensive rebounds per game (12.9) and free throw attempts per game (19.25), sixth in bench points per game (21.9), and seventh in free throws made per game (12.7).
- The Shockers offense is led by the trio of Daniela Abies, Tre'Zure Jobe, and Salese Blow, who are averaging 12.3, 12.0, and 11.7 points per game, respectively.
- Jobe leads Wichita State in assists and steals leader, dishing out 2.7 assists and collecting 1.7 steals per contest.
- Abies is not only the Shockers leading scorer, but she is also their rebounding leader, pulling down a team-leading 8.7 rebounds per game.
- Wichita State's blocks leader is Sierra Morrow, who has blocked 1.4 shots per game through 14 contests this season.
- Florida Atlantic leads Wichita State 1-0 all-time after earning a 63-56 victory in the first-ever meeting between the two programs early this season on January 28. Saturday's matchup will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs in Boca Raton.
- The Owls will remain in Paradise for their midweek matchup next week as they welcome the AAC-leader North Texas for a 7 p.m. tipoff at Eleanor. R. Baldwin Arena.
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