Florida Atlantic women’s basketball is set to miss the Conference USA tournament after falling to the University of Texas-El Paso 69-59 on Thursday night in El Paso, Texas.

After scoring 22 points in the first quarter and taking an eight point lead into the second, the Owls (4-22, 0-15 Conference USA) were outscored 17-4 in the second period. FAU shot 1-of-18 in the quarter, and missed all eight shots from beyond the three-point arc.

However, after trailing by 12 points with 6:36 left in the game, the Owls went on a 9-0 in the next four minutes to trim the deficit down 62-59, but then FAU would go scoreless for the rest of the game.

For the game, FAU shot 35 percent from the field, including just 32 percent from three-point land. UTEP (13-15, 11-5 Conference USA) was 42 percent from the field, and outscored the Owls 38-22 in the paint.

Junior Sasha Cedeno led FAU with 19 points on 8-for-18 shooting from the field. UTEP’s Sparkle Taylor led all scorers with 22 points.

FAU will travel to take on the University of Texas-San Antonio on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m.

Hans Belot Jr. is the sports editor of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him at @Don_Phenom_.