Owls Fall in FIU Holiday Classic Opener to UMass

Friday, December 19

Miami, Fla.

1:30 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

5-6,0-0American

UMass

8-1,0-0MAC

Massachusetts

Fla. Atlantic

12/19/2025 7:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

MIAMI – The Florida Atlantic Owls opened play in the FIU Holiday Classic on Friday, falling in a 66-50 battle against the UMass Minutewomen at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

FAU falls to 5-6 overall, and UMass moves to 8-1 on the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
UMass opened the contest on a 6-0 run. Erin Rodgers, in her season debut, got the scoring going for the Owls, collecting an offensive board and laying in the putback to make it 6-2. The Minutewomen closed out the quarter on a 10-4 run to lead by 10 after the first, 16-6.

The Owls opened the second on a 12-7 run, capped off by back-to-back buckets from Michiyah Simmons and Destyne Jackson, to cut the deficit to five, 23-18, with 4:47 to play in the first half. However, the Owls' offense went cold over the final four minutes of the half as UMass scored 12 unanswered to take a 35-18 lead into the break.

Rodgers opened the scoring in the third quarter, knocking down her first 3-pointer of the season, to make it 35-21. The Owls continued the momentum to bring the deficit back to 10, 37-27, through the 4:37-minute mark after a pair of buckets from Jackson and Haley Walker, and a pair of free throws from Ineivi Plata. But the Owls' scoring once again dried up as UMass outscored FAU 17-4 to hold a 54-31 lead entering the final 10 minutes of play.

UMass extended its lead to the largest of the day at 30, 64-34, at the 5:27-minute mark of the fourth. However, the Owls went on one final run to close out the contest, outscoring the Minutewomen, 16-2, to bring the contest to its close, 66-50.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH LEANN FREELAND
"Overall, I thought UMass played a great game. We were extremely flat for most of the game. I thought their zone affected us because we weren't knocking down open looks. We found a little life at the end of the game, so we are optimistic that we can hopefully carry that success into the FIU rematch tomorrow."

NOTES AND TEAM STATS

Jackson led the Owls in the contest, scoring a team-high 13 points, shooting 38 percent (6-of-16) from the field, and knocking down a 3-pointer. Jackson also added a career-high eight rebounds, as well as an assist and a steal against the Minutewomen.
Jess Moors led the Owls on the glass, pulling down a season-best nine rebounds, and Simmons dished out a team-leading three assists against UMass.

GALLERY

Gallery: (12-19-2025) WBB vs. UMass

UP NEXT
The Owls close out non-conference play on Saturday as they rematch FIU in their non-conference finale. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. on ESPN+ at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

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