Owls Third-Quarter Rally Falls Short vs. Mean Green

Saturday, January 25

Boca Raton, Fla.

2 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

9-12,1-7AAC

North Texas

15-5,7-1AAC

North Texas

Fla. Atlantic

1/25/2025 6:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic Owls battled back off another third-quarter rally, but fell short 73-61 against the North Texas Mean Green on Saturday at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

The Owls fall to 9-12 on the season and 1-7 in AAC play, while North Texas moves to 15-5 overall and 7-1 in conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Ta'Ziah Jenks got the Owls on the board first off an offensive rebound and the bucket. Following a pair of Mean Green scores, Mya Perry brought the Owls back even at 4-4 after a pair of free throws, but North Texas scored six unanswered to take the 10-4 lead. The Owls answered back off a 6-2 run to close back within two after a jumper and pair of free throws from Stefanie Ingram, 12-10, however, the Mean Green closed the opening period on a 12-1 run to hold a 24-11 lead after the first.

Florida Atlantic opened the second with an 8-4 run, capped off by a layup and 3-pointer from Jenks, to close back within single digits, 28-19, at the 6:32-minute mark, but the Mean Green responded, outscoring the Owls 15-5 over the remainder of the first half to take a 43-24 lead into the halftime break.

Out of the break, the Owls looked to rally. North Texas maintained a 17-point, 52-35, advantage through the 6:26-minute mark, however, the Owls locked in over the final six minutes of the third, producing an impressive 16-4 run to close back within two possessions, 56-51, entering the final 10 minutes of play.

However, the Owls just ran out of gas in the fourth. North Texas opened the quarter on a 12-1 run to push its lead back out to 16, 68-52, with 6:24 to play. The Owls went on a 7-0 run through the 2:48-minute mark to cut the deficit back to single digits, 68-59, but it was just not enough as the Mean Green eventually closed out the 73-61 contest.

HEAD COACH JENNIFER SULLIVAN POSTGAME THOUGHTS

"Credit to North Texas, they are a really good basketball team. They do a good job of doing what they do well, running in transition and getting scores in the paint. We knew that going into the game, and there were areas that I thought we adjusted, but to start the game taking away what they do well, we didn't necessarily do great. I was proud of our fight, especially in the third quarter. I thought we ran out of gas in the fourth. I told the girls, 'We have no choice but to regroup and keep working. They keep showing up, and something good is going to come from it.'"

NOTES AND TEAM STATS

Ta'Ziah Jenks and Stefanie Ingram led the Owls against the Mean Green. Jenks finished with a game-high 23 points, tying her career-best, shooting 43 percent (9-of-21) from the field, and going 2-of-8 from beyond the arc, and 3-of-5 from the line, in addition to tying for a team-high five boards, an assist, a steal, and a block.
Ingram finished second on the Owls with 12 points, shooting 40 percent (4-of-10) from the field, 1-of-4 from 3-point range, and going a perfect 100 percent (3-of-3) from the charity stripe. She also added three rebounds, two assists, and a pair of steals.
Florida Atlantic dominated in the third quarter, outscoring the Mean Green 27-13 following the halftime break.

UP NEXT

The Owls will head back on the road this week as they head to New Orleans for a midweek matchup against the Tulane Green Wave on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse and on ESPN+.

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