Third-Quarter Performance Powers Owls in Win Over Bulls

Saturday, January 24

Boca Raton, Fla.

2 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

9-11,3-5American

South Florida

12-9,5-3American

South Fla.

Fla. Atlantic

1/24/2026 6:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

BOCA RATON, Fla. – A dominant 24-9 third-quarter performance and a season-tying 11 made 3-pointers powered the Florida Atlantic women's basketball team to a 64-63 win over the South Florida Bulls on Alumni Day, Saturday at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

The Owls improve to 9-11 on the season and 3-5 in American play, while South Florida falls to 12-9 overall and 5-3 in conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The contest was a defensive battle to start as the Owls held a 4-2 lead through the first three minutes of play. The Bulls tied up the contest at 4-4 as things remained tied entering the final three minutes of the first. South Florida took the lead, leading 9-6 at the 46-second mark of the first; however, Grace Carstensen and Haley Walker knocked down back-to-back triples, the latter of which beat the buzzer to close out the first, as the Owls led 12-9 after one.

South Florida retook the lead to open the second, taking a 17-14 lead through the 6:55 minute mark. The Owls jumped back in front 18-17 after back-to-back buckets from Vivian Onugha and Ineivi Plata. The Bulls retook the lead once again off a 3-pointer and a free throw from Edyn Battle, 21-18. Trailing by three, 23-20, with 2:49 to play in the half, Jess Moors scored a pair of layups to close out the half as the Owls made it a one-possession game, 25-24, at the halftime break.

FAU came out of the locker room on fire, going on a second-half opening 16-4 run, which was capped off by back-to-back triples from Moors and Plata, to take an 11-point lead, 40-29, and forcing a Bulls timeout. USF cut the deficit to six at the 4:26-minute mark, off a pair of scores to make it 40-34. However, the Owls locked in defensively over the final four minutes of the third, holding the Bulls scoreless and netting eight unanswered points to extend their lead to 14, 48-34, entering the final 10 minutes of play.

The Bulls battled back in the fourth. USF slowly chipped away at FAU's advantage, cutting the lead to just two, 58-56, at the 3:12-minute mark. Carstensen knocked down her fifth 3-pointer of the day to push the Owls' lead back to five, 61-56, with 2:50 to play. The Bulls continued their run, outscoring the Owls 7-1, to take their first lead of the second half at 63-62 with 33 seconds to go. With five seconds to play, Plata drove into the paint, drawing the shooting foul on a layup. Erin Rodgers headed to the line to shoot for Plata, who was injured on the foul, connecting on the pair of shots at the line to clinch the 64-63 win.

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE

NOTES AND TEAM STATS

Moors and Carstensen led the Owls in the win.
Moors posted her first career 20-point game, finishing with a career-best 21 points, shooting 7-of-14 from the field, 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, and going a perfect 3-of-3 at the line, while also adding four boards, two steals, and two assists in the career performance.
Carstensen finished with 18 points, shooting 6-of-11 from the field, 5-of-8 from distance, and knocking down a free throw.
Haley Walker pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds, and Plata dished out a game-leading five assists in the win.
The Owls dominated from beyond the arc, outshooting the Bulls 11-3 from distance.
FAU also held an advantage in second-chance points, outscoring the Bulls 13-8.

GALLERY

Gallery: (1-24-2026) WBB vs. South Florida

UP NEXT
The Owls head back on the road for a two-game road stretch, beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at Tulsa. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at the Donald W. Reynolds Center and on ESPN+.

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.