BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University women's basketball team (2-2) will look to win their second straight home game, as the squad hosts former Sun Belt Conference foe Little Rock (1-3) on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Abessinio Court at FAU Arena.
The Owls attained their largest margin of victory in the
Jim Jabir era, as well as the biggest for the program since 2013 against Siena on Tuesday. FAU is now looking to close out the homestand with their first ever win over Little Rock. Thursday's game marks the 11th matchup between the former Sun Belt opponents, and the Owls are looking to capitalize to win back-to-back home games for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
Through the first four games,
Crystal Primm is the leading scorer, averaging 14.0 points per game.
Juliette Gauthier follows with 11.5 points per game, with her and Primm leading the way in rebounds, each with 8.5 per game.
Lotta Vehka-Aho has contributed greatly on both sides of the ball with a team's best 20 assists and eight steals.
FAU came out victorious in its home opener on Tuesday over Siena. The 83-39 win marked the largest margin of victory for FAU since 2013, when the Owls took down Florida Memorial, 120-43. FAU opened up the game with a 22-0 run with 4:13 left in the first with
Juliette Gauthier knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers in one minute and 29 seconds. The Owls went into the locker room with a 54-17 lead, shooting 55.4 percent from the field and 61.5 percent from beyond the arc in the first half. FAU ran into a scoring drought for over half of the third quarter, but recovered by closing the frame on an 8-0 run. The Owls held the Saints to just three points in the fourth quarter, making for the least amount of points scored by an opponent in a quarter.
Gauthier had her first double-double of the season, second in her career, matching a career-high in points (24) and setting new record highs in rebounds (12) and 3-pointers (six). The Owls showcased four players in double figures on Tuesday, as
Lotta Vehka-Aho,
Abby Voss and
Alexa Zaph each scored 10 points. Vehka-Aho also captured six rebounds and five assists, while Zaph tallied a game-high six assists. FAU set several new season highs, including in points (83), field goal percentage (47.6), rebounds (53) and 3-pointers made (11).
The Trojans were projected to win the Sun Belt based on the preseason poll conducted by the league's head coaches. Little Rock was given six first place votes. Guard Kyra Collier was selected as a Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team choice, while Tori Lasker was named to the Preseason Second Team. Little Rock has endured a tough schedule to open the year, taking on No. 6/7 Texas A&M, Rice and LSU. The Trojan's first win came against head coach Joe Foley's alma matter Central Arkansas in a 63-48 victory. Through the first four games, Collier leads the Trojans with 15.8 points per game, 10 assists and five steals. Krystan Varnes leads the way in rebounds with 5.5 boards per game.
FAU has never beaten Little Rock, as the Trojans have won each of the past 10 games. When FAU was in the Sun Belt, the two teams squared off at least once a year from 2007-13, along with a 59-42 loss in the 2012 Sun Belt Tournament Semifinals. The closest the Owls have been to knocking off the Trojans came in 2007, as FAU fell in a close one, 60-57. Last season, the Owls traveled to Little Rock for the first road game of the year, but ultimately fell to the Trojans, 61-38.
Amber Gaston led the way with six points, while
Abby Voss followed with five.
vs. Little Rock
FAU will hit the road one last time in 2019 to face Central Michigan on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Owls will be back at The Burrow for the annual Thanksgiving Tournament held from Friday, Nov. 29 to Saturday, Nov. 30. For tickets, call 1-800-FAU-OWLS or visit
FAUSports.com.
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