Georgia Southern University
6-4,0-0Sun Belt
Florida Atlantic
7-4,0-0AAC
Owls Clip Eagles In Overtime, 71-66, In Phoenix
12/18/2024 4:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Georgia Southern drops opener in the GCU Christmas Classic; faces Wright State on Thursday
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Florida Atlantic scored the first four points of overtime to collect a 71-66 women's college basketball victory over Georgia Southern in the first game of the GCU Have Fayth Christmas Classic from Phoenix on Wednesday afternoon.
The Owls improved to 7-4 on the year with the victory, while Georgia Southern fell to 6-4.
McKenna Eddings drilled three three-pointers in the first quarter as the Eagles took a 15-8 lead after one. But FAU got hot from long range, knocking down 5-of-9 threes in a 27-point period to take a 35-32 lead at the break.
The Owls stretched their halftime lead to as many as seven in the third quarter, but Georgia Southern used an 11-0 run early in the fourth quarter to take a 56-53 lead with 5:11 remaining.
The lead stayed at three for the Eagles until a three-pointer by Mya Perry with 2:01 left tied the game at 58-all.
Leah Johnson's offensive rebound and putback with 1:10 left put the Eagles in front, 60-58, but Erin Rodgers tied the game with a jumper with 8.7 seconds left and Nicole Gwynn's shot attempt from the baseline as time expired missed short, sending the game to an extra period.
Four Eagles reached double figures in the contest, led by Johnson's 16 points. Eddings scored 13, while Paris Gaines and Gwynn finished with 10 points. Gaines notched a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Perry led the way for FAU with 27 points, including 6-of-11 on threes, while Erin Rogers added her own double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds.
Player of the Game
Leah Johnson also collected a double-double with 16 points and 18 rebounds - 10 offensive. The 18 rebounds by Johnson were the most for a Georgia Southern player since Mimi Lindsey also had 18 rebounds in the 2004 SoCon Championship game vs. Chattanooga on March 8. She was efficient from the field as well, hitting 7-of-12 shots from the floor.
Stat of the Game
Georgia Southern hit just 1-of-11 shots in the overtime period (.091) compared to FAU's 3-of-6 shots (.500) from the floor.
Quotables
Head coach Hana Haden on the fourth quarter stretch
"We just couldn't find that separation up three. We had a lot of opportunities, just couldn't get over the hump. I thought for the most part we executed, had several good looks and a few that were half way down that we just couldn't get to fall."
On dealing with FAU's Perry and her 27 points
"We had a much better attention to detail on the scouting report in the second half. We came in knowing that she could shoot the ball. For whatever reason we lost her a lot in the first half, but we did a much better job in the second half making sure we knew where she was."
Next Up
The Eagles continue action in the Classic on Thursday, facing Wright State at 2 p.m. ET from Phoenix.
