Nov. 25, 2000

Box Score

SAN MARCOS, TX -

Florida Atlantic University won its second straight game Saturday night, defeating the University of Texas-Pan American 66-57 in San Marcos, TX in final round action of the Southwest Texas State Classic. The win was the Lady Owls' second in as many nights and evened their record at 2-2. LaTorria Matthews led FAU with 19 points for the second straight night. She also was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Tamala Vaughn had 14 points and was also named to the all-tournament team, while Jill Banse added eight.

FAU jumped out quick on UTPA, outscoring the Lady Broncs 12-4 over the first 3:52 of the first half. Matthews scored eight of those points, including two three-pointers. FAU would build as much as a 15-point advantage in the first half before taking a 37-27 lead into the break.

The Owls' first half was marked by 6-for-10 shooting from beyond the arc, including 3-of-4 from Matthews.

UTPA (1-3) scored the first three points of the second half to cut the deficit to seven points with 17:53 left in the game. However, Matthews connected for her fourth trey 17 seconds later to give FAU a double-figure lead once again at 40-30. The last of Matthews' threes also stopped a UTPA rally as the senior connected with 7:36 remaining to give FAU a 56-44 lead. The Lady Broncs would get as close as nine points before finally losing by that same margin.

"I liked our intensity," said FAU head coach Chancellor Dugan. "Our players showed me something tonight as far as being able to come out in back-to-back nights with the same level of play."

Dugan also was pleased with the play of Vaughn, who is one of three returnees for the Lady Owls and who had gotten off to a slow start in FAU's first two games.

"Tammy has really stepped up and come to play," said Dugan. "We are a totally different team when she plays the way she has the past couple of nights."

For the game, FAU shot 41-percent compared to UTPA's 34-percent. The Lady Broncs were just 13-percent from long-range while FAU converted on 50-percent of its three-pointers.

FAU trailed just once, which was in the first minute of play. UTPA was led by Naima Williams' game-high 21 points.

Florida Atlantic next plays at Jacksonville State November 30 in their first game of Trans America Athletic Conference action.