March 11, 2006

Final Stats

DOTHAN, AL --- For the first time, since 1992-93, Florida Atlantic University's women's basketball team will be a part of the NCAA Tournament as it outlasted the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs 74-63 in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship game on Saturday afternoon at the Dothan Civic Center. FAU (20-10, 19-4 A-Sun) posted its first 20-win season at the Division I level.

"There is nothing sweeter than victory!" Head Coach Chancellor Dugan said following the win. "This is such a special moment for this entire team and I couldn't be any happier than I am right now."

Shontavia Williams was named Tournament MVP after averaging 23.5 points and nine rebounds per game. The Miami native connected on 46.3% (19-41) of her shots on the weekend and capped off her MVP performance by tying her season-high with 26 points. Missy Glaser averaged 11.5 points per game and Amanda Bulin averaged nine points and 7.7 rebounds per game, joining Williams on the All-Tournament team.

The first half featured six lead changes and four ties, but the Owls eventually opened things up to a hold a 34-28 lead at the break.

Brittney Crenshaw gave FAU a 16-10 lead as she deposited a jumper along the baseline with 9:32 left in the opening half, but the Bulldogs took a 17-16 advantage as Brittney Harmon put in two of her 13 points at the 8:14 mark.

Williams and Cristal Randolph nailed back-to-back triples to put the Owls on top, 24-18, with 6:36 left in the first session. Sharia Young deposited a triple-hit of her own to give FAU its largest lead of the half, 32-22, at the 3:23 mark. Gardner-Webb scored six of the final 10 points of the stanza, cutting the lead to six at the break.

FAU extended its halftime edge to 46-34 as Williams dropped home one of her four threes on the afternoon with 13:20 remaining in the game. Sally N'Diaye nailed a face-up jumper with 11:05 left to give the Owls their largest lead of the game at 51-36.

GWU narrowed the margin to six, 59-53, when Shameka Smith netted two of her seven charity tosses in the game, but Gardner-Webb couldn't climb any closer. Smith led the Bulldogs' offensive attack with 19 points to go along with 16 rebounds.

The Owls made a season high 10 treys on 17 attempts and benefited from 23 points off of the bench. FAU also won the rebounding battle, 46-39, over the Bulldogs.

FAU will return home Sunday and will learn its tournament seeding when the NCAA Selection Show airs Monday, Mar.13 at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN.