Owls Close Non-Conference Play at FIU Holiday Classic

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic women's basketball team wraps up its non-conference schedule this weekend at the FIU Holiday Classic on Friday & Saturday, Dec. 19-20, 2025 inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

The Owls open play on Friday, Dec. 19, at 1:30 p.m. vs. UMass. FAU will then rematch its south Florida rival FIU in its non-conference finale on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 11 a.m. Fans can catch both games live on ESPN+.

MATCHUP INFO
Florida Atlantic (5-5) vs. UMass (7-1)
Date: Friday, Dec. 19
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
Location: Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami

Florida Atlantic vs. FIU (5-3)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 20
Time: 11 a.m. ET
Location: Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami

GAME COVERAGE
UMass
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

FIU
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

A LOOK AT THE OWLS

Florida Atlantic enters the FIU Holiday Classic at 5-5 overall this season. The Owls will look to snap a two-game skid after dropping contests against FGCU, 70-59, and FIU, 80-63.
As a team, the Owls currently rank in the top five in the American in several categories, ranking third in the league in bench points per game (27.1), steals per game (10.7), and 3-point percentage (.324), fourth in 3-pointers per game (7.1), and fifth in scoring defense (65.2), 3-point attempts per game (21.9), and turnovers forced per game (19.1).
FAU is paced offensively by Vivian Onugha, Destyne Jackson, and Grace Carstensen. Onugha boasts a team-leading 10.8 points per game, while Jackson and Grace rank second and third, averaging 8.6 and 8.5 points per game, respectively.
On the glass, the Owls are led by Haley Walker and Onugha. Walker has tallied a team-leading 6.6 rebounds per game, while Onugha has tallied 6.2 boards per game.
The Owls' assists leader is Jess Moors, who has dished out a team-best 2.8 assists per game.
Moors also leads the team in steals, collecting a team-leading 2.4 steals per game.

SCOUTING UMASS

UMass enters Friday's matchup at 7-1 on the season. The Minutewomen opened the season on a seven-game winning streak and are just coming off their first loss of the season, falling 64-61 against Army.
The Minutewomen's offense is paced by Yahmani Mckayle and Megan Olbrys, averaging 15.6 and 15.1 points per game, respectively. Mckayle also leads the team in assists, dishing out 5.2 assists per game, and Olbrys leads the team on the boards, pulling down 7.9 rebounds per game.
UMass' steals leader is Ayanna Franks, averaging 3.6 steals per game, and the Minutewomen's blocks leader is Chinenye Odenigbo, recording 1.1 blocks per game.

SERIES HISTORY

Friday's matchup marks the first meeting between FAU and UMass.

SCOUTING FIU

FIU enters the weekend at 5-3 overall and on a four-game winning streak, earning wins over UMBC, 86-76, Seattle, 64-59, and Georgia State, 103-92, and an 80-63 win on Monday against the Owls.
The Panthers are led offensively by Rhema Collins, scoring 20.0 points per game this season. Parris Atkins and Denika Lightbourne rank second and third, averaging 17.3 and 10.1 points per game, respectively.
Collins also leads FIU on the glass, tallying a team-best 10.7 rebounds per game, and in blocks, recording 1.6 blocks per game this season.
The Panthers are paced in steals by Atkins, collecting 4.6 steals per game, and Grecia Leal Ferrer is the Panthers' assists leader, dishing out a team-best 4.8 assists per game this season.

SERIES HISTORY

FIU leads the all-time series between the Owls and the Panthers, 39-18. In Miami, the Owls trail the Panthers, 20-7. In the last meeting, the Owls couldn't overcome fourth-quarter struggles, dropping an 80-63 contest against the Panthers earlier this week.

LAST TIME OUT: vs. FIU

The Owls couldn't overcome fourth-quarter struggles in an 80-63 loss against FIU on Monday.
Onugha and Carstensen led the Owls in the contest, recording 18 and 12 points, respectively. Onugha shot 75% (9-of-12) from the field, to go along with five boards, a steal, and a block, while Carstensen shot 50% (4-of-8) from beyond the arc and added a steal against the Panters.
Simmons dished out a team-high four assists.
Moors led the Owls on the glass, collecting a team-leading six rebounds.
Gewirtz tallied a team-best two blocks in the contest.
The Owls started the game strong, outscoring the Panthers 23-16 in the first quarter.
FAU was also more efficient in its shooting, outpacing FIU 45.8 to 44.6 percent from the field, 36.4 to 31.6 percent from 3-point range, and 73.3 to 66.7 percent from behind the line.
The Owls' reserves also outpaced FIU's bench, outscoring the Panthers 28 to 19.

UP NEXT

Following the FIU Holiday Classic, the Owls will open American Conference play on Tuesday, Dec. 30, hosting the North Texas Mean Green for a 7 p.m. tip on ESPN+ inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

FOLLOW THE OWLS
To stay up to date with everything Florida Atlantic women's basketball, follow @FAUWBB_Hoops on X and @FAUWBB on Instagram, or like Florida Atlantic Women's Basketball on Facebook.

Florida Atlantic's 2025-26 season is sponsored by Flagler Credit Union.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Grace Carstensen

Destyne Jackson

Jess Moors

Vivian Onugha

Haley Walker

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus UMass on December 19, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball at FIU on December 20, 2025 at 11 a.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus North Texas on December 30, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Rice on January 3, 2026 at 2 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball at Memphis on January 7, 2026 at 8 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball at UAB on January 10, 2026 at 3 p.m.

Florida Atlantic University Athletics