FAU junior guard Breana Turner takes the ball inside against Western Kentucky on Saturday at FAU Arena. (FAUOwlAccess.com photo)
Owls finally top WKU
FAU rallies from an early deficit to defeat Western Kentucky for the first time in school history on Saturday at FAU Arena.
Originally published on
1/29/2011
by
Marcus Nelson
BOCA RATON – Florida Atlantic women’s basketball coach Chancellor Dugan waited four years to defeat Western Kentucky, but the last 10 minutes of Saturday’s 79-67 victory were the toughest.
After the Owls took a commanding lead, Dugan said it seemed like an eternity before the final buzzer sounded as FAU ended a nine-game losing streak vs. the Hilltoppers.
“I looked up and there was seven minutes to go and it already felt like we had played 40 minutes,” Dugan said. “These last five games have been like the five games from hell. For this team to come down to the fifth game in this stretch and to get a win today was huge.”
The victory meant an end to FAU’s four-game losing streak and was its second victory in the last 11 games.
“This was a great team win,” said junior guard Breana Turner, who led the Owls with 17 points. “If we keep playing hard and play like we did today we could win every game.”
The Owls (5-15, 2-7 Sun Belt) fell behind 17-4 in the first half but adjusted its offense with more designed plays going to the post in the second half
The adjustment worked as FAU shot 55 percent from the field after halftime.
“I think switching up offenses kind of through them off,” Dugan said.
GameBrowser: FAU 79, WKU 67
- Step forward: Guard Lyrell Barfield had 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting
- Step back: The Owls committed 24 turnovers
- Key stat: Four Owls scored in double-figures
- Up Next: The Owls are back on the road for a rare 2 p.m. weekday game at North Texas on Thursday.