The Lady Owls came up just short in a hard-fought battle, as they could not get a stop in the final moments of the 80-74 loss to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at The Burrow on the Boca campus.

The fast-paced game was close throughout, but the Owls could not manage to keep in control of the game long enough.

FAU did manage to claim a 2-point lead midway through the first half on a play that was highlighted by an off-balance, shot-clock-beating jumper by senior point guard Brittany Bowe.
 

The Lady Owls also enjoyed a 3-point lead to start the second half, but the Hilltoppers responded.

Western Kentucky continued to control the game throughout the second half, leading by as much as 6, and managed to hold the Lady Owls off on numerous occasions.

“We were one stop away from doing what we needed to do,” coach Chancellor Dugan said of her team’s late efforts. “We needed to be tougher, stronger and more physical on the inside.”
Late in the second half, 3s from sophomore guard Terri Stamps brought the Owls within 2, trailing 76-74, with 10 seconds left in the game. However, Hilltopper free throws kept the Lady Owls at bay until the final buzzer.

Senior forward Carla Stubbs led all scorers with 20 points in the defeat.

With the loss, the Lady Owls fall to 14-13 overall and 10-7 in the Sun Belt Conference. They now prepare to face conference leader Middle Tennessee in a nationally televised game at The Burrow at noon EST on Saturday, Feb. 27. The final game of the regular season will also be the final home game for the six seniors on the Lady Owls’ roster.

Dugan is looking forward to facing the Sun Belt powerhouse, especially after defeating a nationally ranked Blue Raiders team last season.

“If playing the No. 1 team on your home court on national television does not get you excited, then you don’t have a pulse,” said Dugan. “I’m getting goose bumps just talking about it.”