March 4, 2005

Final Stats

NASHVILLE, TN - Florida Atlantic University rallied late but couldn't overcome Belmont University in a 62-59 loss Friday afternoon in Nashville, TN. The Lady Owls went on a 10-0 run to pull within 56-55 with under a minute remaining before the Bruins held on from the free throw line to score their final six points. Sharia Young led FAU with 14 points. Belmont's Jenny Conkle led all scorers with 20. With the loss, FAU concludes its regular season 12-15 overall and 10-10 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

FAU controlled the game early and opened up a 20-13 lead after a Callie Piper three-pointer. The Bruins then used an 18-4 run late in the half to take a 31-24 lead. Shontavia Williams, who finished with eight points, made a pair of free throws with seconds remaining to pull FAU within 31-26 at halftime.

In the second half, Belmont increased its lead to 47-34 before FAU tried to chip away. A Cristal Randolph trey at the 10:08 mark made it 49-42. The Bruins upped the advantage to 56-45 before the Owls mounted their comeback.

A pair of free throws by Missy Glaser made it 56-47 before a jumper by Young cut the lead to 56-49. With 1:21 remaining, Randolph made another three to close the gap to 56-52. After Belmont missed its third consecutive front end of a one-and-one, a Piper three with 54 seconds left made it 56-55.

That was as close as the Lady Owls would get as Belmont scored the next five points to lead 61-55 and never allowed FAU a chance to tie or take the lead.

Both teams shot 40 percent from the field. Belmont outrebounded FAU 41-33 while both teams committed 16 turnovers.

Florida Atlantic will next take part in the A-Sun Tournament, which runs March 10-12 in Dothan, AL. Final seeding and first round match-ups will not be known until Saturday evening. The Lady Owls could be seeded anywhere from no. 5 to no. 8.