After a great win against ECU last Saturday, FAU hosted Temple (9-6, 3-1 AAC) in Paradise. The Owls from Philly came into the matchup after a tough loss to USF looking for a bounce back. An early conference matchup between the Owls was set to be a good one, but Florida Atlantic fell in OT to Temple in a heartbreaker.
First Half
At the tipoff was a dominant FAU defense as the Owls only allowed one make in the first 5:56 of gametime. Florida Atlantic also forced five turnovers during that time frame as they led 8-3 with 4:04 left in the first. Temple responded nicely to the opening punch taking the lead thanks to a 13-0 run over the final four minutes of the first: 16-9 Temple.
Florida Atlantic opened the second with a 12-3 run capped off by a Mya Perry three as FAU led 21-19 with 6:55 remaining in the half. The squads traded points as Temple took the lead again, 28-25 with 3:47 remaining. The Perry three was later taken off the board after review, 28-22 Temple. The Owls from Philly extended their lead to nine, 33-24 Temple. Florida Atlantic did not give up as they closed the half on a 5-0 run as they trailed 33-29 at the half.
Both teams were shooting roughly 33% from beyond the arc, but the major difference was Temple’s six makes from three while FAU only had three.
Second Half
Temple came out of the locker room still shooting around 40%, but went 5-8 from the charity stripe with four field goals made as they took a commanding 47-34 lead at the media timeout. Florida Atlantic once again responded well using a 7-2 run to bring the deficit down to eight. FAU headed into the fourth with work to do as they trailed 49-41.
Florida Atlantic opened the fourth on a 6-0 run capped off by the recent conference freshman of the week Lovisa Asbrink Hose’s tipin; 49-47 Temple. The road Owls responded with back-to-back buckets forcing an FAU timeout; 53-47 Temple with 8:07 remaining in the contest. Florida Atlantic pulled the contest within one thanks to a Jada Moore and-one conversion, 55-54 Temple with 5:04 remaining. Temple once again claimed a four-point lead, but a Mya Perry three brought it within one. Immediately afterwards Ta’Ziah Jenks had to be pulled away after an altercation with Temple’s Anissa Rivera away from the play. That led to a near 10-minute review. Rivera and Jenks were both assessed technical fouls. Perry missed both free throws, but a Moore layup gave FAU a 59-58 lead. Temple bounced back taking a two-point lead thanks to a three. It was 61-59 with one minute remaining. With 18 seconds remaining Jenks’ layup evened the contest once more at 61. Temple missed the go-ahead shot as the squads added an extra five-minutes of basketball to their evening’s.
Overtime
Perry opened overtime with a three for FAU as the Owls led 64-61 early. With three minutes remaining, a Temple layup pulled the game within one, 65-64 FAU. Temple’s attack continued as they took a 69-65 lead thanks to a 7-0 run; 1:34 remained in the game. Another Jenks layup pulled the game within two, but Temple responded with a layup of their own as they led 71-67 with only 45 seconds remaining. The Owls from Philly kept their foot on the gas for the remainder of OT as they won the contest 75-69 after a valiant FAU effort.
Final Stats
Moore (top picture, Angelina LaBelle) was FAU’s leading scorer with her career-high of 24. Jenks, Stefani Ingram, and Perry all had double-digit performances as well. Jenks earned a double double thanks to her 18 rebounds as FAU gained 64 in the contest. Ingram (pictured below, Angelina LaBelle) earned six assists as well. The major stat line that impacted the result of the game was FAU’s three-point shot %. The Owls were 5-18 from deep while Temple was 10-30. In a six point contest a difference of five threes became the difference.
Coaches Thoughts
After the game Coach Sullivan shared her thoughts, “This hurts, obviously, but I told the team I was so proud of their effort. That’s a really, really good basketball team, Temple, they’re physical. It took us a while to settle into the physicality of what they did, and we had opportunity after opportunity to win the game, but that’s a big step for this team and our program to be in a situation like that against the team that will finish in the top four of this league. So really, really proud of their fight, and where we go from here. But obviously this hurts right now. We’re going to sit in the hurt.”
Coach Sullivan also shared her thoughts of her team keeping their composure during the wild fourth quarter, “Fortunately, it kind of was just a physical play by Temple, and so I didn’t actually see it, and so I think the fact that it was initiated by the other team probably helped keep us calm. So I was proud of them, and both groups and the refs getting them calmed down, getting the call, and then being able to move forward. and finish out the game so that’ll happen both teams of competing and scrapping and they won’t win, and I like that I like the games like that.”
Look Ahead
The Owls (9-7, 1-2 AAC) will turn their attention to the Blazers of UAB (10-6, 1-3). UAB has not had a great start opening the conference schedule as they lost three straight to open. They earned a 73-56 victory over Memphis to earn their tenth win of the season though, bouncing back. UAB is averaging 68 PPG in the AAC so for an Owls victory, FAU must find a way to find points in crucial situations. Tipoff between FAU and UAB is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 11 at 2pm in Boca Raton.