Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Lady Owls Show Progress in ’08-’09

Midway through Sun Belt Conference play, the Lady Owls are in an unfamiliar position: They are a winning team.

Though the team is three games under .500 at 9-12 overall, Saturday’s win over the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns moved the Owls to 6-5 in conference play. That’s good for second place in the Sun Belt East Division, behind perennial conference power Middle Tennessee.

This time last year the Owls were a meager 4-19 overall, 1-9 in their conference and in last place in the Sun Belt. They struggled with injuries and finished up 6-22 overall and 2-12 in conference play.

However, if you had told Coach Chancellor Dugan this time last year they’d be in this position now, she wouldn’t have been surprised.
“I probably would have thought we’d be [in this position] last year,” says Dugan. “We were expecting to have [Breana] Cox and a full squad.”

The full squad, laden with senior leadership that Dugan was looking for last year, was cut short because of the departure of would-be senior Breana Cox due to personal reasons and the absence of senior forward Mercedes Thompson.

But senior guard Brittany Bowe and junior forward Carla Stubbs have been doing their best to fill the voids left by Cox and Thompson. Stubbs averages a team-leading 12.4 points a game and adds 5.3 rebounds. Bowe is putting up 11 points a game and dishing out 3.9 assists.

In addition to the play of the seniors, the team has seen a pleasant surprise in the play of freshmen guards Teri Stamps and Breana Turner. The two are averaging a combined 12.8 points per game. Their coach acknowledges just how crucial they are to the team’s success.
“Their development has been huge for us,” notes Dugan. “I expect a lot more from them, but they are still improving and coming along very well.”

While the girls’ day-by-day progress is evident, there are still a few kinks that need to be ironed out. Turnovers and mental mistakes still sometimes get in the way of the team’s ability to shine.
“We have to take better care of the ball,” Dugan admits. “Sometimes we get
lost out there.”

Stubbs and Bowe, along with junior power forward Jessica Knurick (8.8 points a game and 6.4 rebounds), anchor an offense that is averaging 63.9 points per game.
The defense gives up 69.3 points a game, which is a scoring deficit of 5.4, an issue Dugan knows the team needs to continue to address.
“Our offense is getting a lot better; our defense is doing better as well but still has a lot of work to do,” says Dugan. “I think we will be a lot better when we don’t have to think
as much.”

As the Owls come down the home stretch with just seven games remaining before the Sun Belt Tournament, they are poised to finish off strong and earn decent seeding in the conference tournament. If the season ended today, the Lady Owls would be the fourth seed.
“We still have a long way to go,” as Dugan says.

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