Florida Atlantic women’s basketball (10-13, 4-6 AC) clashed with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (9-14, 2-9 AC) on Saturday at the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena. The Owls overcame a late surge, securing a much-needed win.
The Owls claimed an emphatic win over a team they have historically struggled against. Including the two most recent matchups, the Owls have won six games in contrast to 15 losses when facing UAB since December 2003.
In their last 10 meetings, the Owls have gained momentum with a record of 4-6 against UAB. Their win on Feb. 7 marks a turning point as the Owls now hold a two-game win streak over UAB.
“I thought we came out really strong and aggressive and had a great first quarter to set the tone for the game,” head coach LeAnn Freeland said in the postgame press conference.
The Owls never hesitated to get to the rim. They moved the ball, creating open looks for drives and layup opportunities. The Owls racked up a commanding 15-6 lead by the end of the first quarter, shooting 41.7% from the field and 50 % at the free-throw line.
In the second quarter, the Owls continued to excel in the paint. The team shot 6-for-14 from the field on 42.9% with an additional 4-for-5 free throws, shooting 80% at the line. FAU guard Jess Moors drained two important 3-pointers during the quarter to help the team maintain speed.
The Blazers shot better than FAU in the second, shooting 61.5% on 8-for-13 made field goals. Despite this, the Blazers found it difficult to get to the free-throw line, going the entire second quarter with zero made free throws on only one attempt.
The Owls entered halftime with a nine-point lead over the Blazers. The Owls’ tenacity was also evident in their rebounding on both ends of the court. They managed to grab 19 total rebounds in the first half alone.
Following the break, the Owls again came out firing on all cylinders with sophomore guard Erin Rodgers splashed a long-range 3-pointer to bring the home crowd on their feet. Rodgers, who averages 17.5 points for the season, took control of the third quarter.
After back-and-forth possessions, Rodgers was quick to add two points on an extended jumper to force the Blazers to take a timeout with the score now 40-24, marking a 7-0 run for the Owls.
The Blazers battled hard to trade baskets with the Owls until there were 2:30 left in the quarter. Rodgers hit another 3-pointer, and the Blazers responded with baskets to cut FAU’s lead to 51-41 with less than a minute left in the third quarter.
Once again, Rodgers rose to the occasion and smoothly finished a layup for yet another two points. The quarter ended high in intensity with a 53-45 lead for the Owls. Rodgers had 11 points in the quarter to help push back the UAB charge.
The Blazers furthered their late-game rally into the fourth quarter. Tallahassee native and UAB guard Jordan Rosier drilled a corner three to cut FAU’s lead to five points. The Blazers chipped away further with a layup from senior guard Journey Armstead.
With 4:02 left in the game, the Blazers added two more points on a fast break to make it 62-59. Rodgers pushed the lead with another layup. The Blazers answered back with a 3-pointer from junior guard Cali Smallwood.
With only 35 seconds remaining, Arsmstead was fouled driving to the rim. She made one of two free throws at the line to make the score 64-63 with 25.9 seconds to play.
Rodgers received the inbound pass and quickly pushed the ball down the court. She scored past two defenders to extend the Owls’ lead to three.
The Blazers looked to tie it up with 13.2 seconds left, but ultimately failed to convert a shot from beyond the arc. The Owls made two free throws to clinch the game, and the final score was 68-63 in favor of the Owls.
Rodgers stood out with 25 points, shooting 9-for-14 from the field, 3-for-5 from three, and 4-for-8 from the free throw line. As a team, the Owls had nine offensive and 24 defensive rebounds for a total of 33. They also scored 32 of their 68 total points in the paint.
Freeland said she was “really proud of the effort down the stretch to secure the win.” She also expressed her excitement about Rodgers’ performance coming off an injury and having her “back in full form.”
With her first back-to-back 20-point stretch since the 2023-24 season, Rodgers made sure to convey what it meant.
“It shows that everything, all the hard work that I’m putting in, it’s showing. So I’m just trying to keep stacking days and stay under control,” Rodgers said.
The Owls will look to capitalize on their victory, as they travel to face Wichita State (5-19, 2-9 AC) on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
Jacob Weeks is a Contributing Writer for the University Press. For more information regarding this or other stories, email him at [email protected].
