The last two minutes, however, ultimately proved otherwise.

FAU dropped its fourth consecutive contest in a 70-67 loss to Sun Belt Conference leader Middle Tennessee at The Burrow on Saturday.

Clinging onto a 65-64 lead with 1:56 to go in regulation, Middle Tennessee’s Icelyn Elie put in an easy lay-up to give the Blue Raiders a 66-65 advantage they wouldn’t relinquish.

It was a painful defeat, but not the worst in recent memory.

“No, those [painful losses] were the ones that had no pride attached to them,” FAU coach Kellie Lewis-Jay said. “Like the ones that happened last week.”

FAU had three players — guard Kimberly Smith, guard Takia Brooks, and forward Chenise Miller — finish in double-digits, but it was all for naught.

Despite Brooks’ impressive afternoon, she committed a crucial technical foul late in the game, a call she was none too pleased with.

“We never get calls,” Brooks said angrily. “You just have to roll with the punches.”

Her coach would prefer for her to keep her cool.

“[Takia] showed a little more emotion than she probably should,” Lewis-Jay said. “Whether she agreed with the call or not, she needs to stay a little more composed.”

FAU went to the half ahead 39-34, shooting a solid 51 percent from the field.

But the second half was the team’s downfall.

The Owls finished with a 43 percent mark from the field (25-58) and 45 percent from beyond the arc, which are respectable numbers.

FAU, though, turned the ball over a game-high 14 times, were worked in the paint (accounting for 30 of Middle Tennessee’s points), and never got a consistent contribution from their bench.

Although the Owls now sit below .500 at 10-11, and appear to be on a downward spiral, Lewis-Jay remains confident in a turnaround.

“We’ll keep fighting, keep playing hard,” Lewis-Jay said. “I didn’t have to coach effort — that wasn’t an issue. We just have to continue to move forward, continue to grow, and keep everything in perspective.”

The Lady Owls play at FIU on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m.