Owls Soar to 76-71 Victory Over Air Force Behind Second-Half Surge
Florida Atlantic women’s basketball overcame a slow start to defeat Air Force 76-71 on Thursday at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena in Boca Raton, Florida, fueled by a dominant second-half performance. The win improves the Owls’ overall record to 3-3, while the Falcons fall to 3-4 on the season.
First-Half Struggles, Second-Half Dominance
The game began with a back-and-forth exchange, as Air Force opened with an 8-4 run before the Owls responded with a matching 8-4 stretch, tying the score at 12-12 with just under three minutes remaining in the first quarter. The first period concluded with the score knotted at 17-all after a three-pointer from the Falcons.
The second quarter saw Air Force build a 13-point lead, capitalizing on Florida Atlantic errors and extending their advantage to 36-26 by halftime. However, the Owls emerged from the break with renewed focus.
Turning the Tide in the Third
Florida Atlantic dramatically shifted the momentum in the third period, unleashing a 19-7 run sparked by forced Air Force turnovers. A three-pointer from Madi Gewirtz capped off the run, giving the Owls a 45-43 lead. Zahira Arizmendi extended the lead to five with another three-pointer, but the Falcons responded with a three of their own, narrowing the gap to 55-53 at the end of the third.
Closing Strong for the Win
The fourth quarter remained competitive, with Air Force tying the score at 55-55. The Owls then answered with a 9-2 run, regaining a seven-point lead at 64-57 with 5:35 left to play. Despite a late push from the Falcons, who cut the deficit to three at 68-65, key baskets from Jess Moors and free throws from Haley Walker and Moors secured the victory for Florida Atlantic, pushing the lead back to eight at 74-66 with 24 seconds remaining. A final three-pointer from Air Force wasn’t enough to overcome the Owls’ advantage, resulting in a 76-71 final score.
Coach Freeland Highlights Key Adjustments
“I felt like we fought really hard to get back in the game,” said the Owls’ head coach, Leann Freeland. “We started out extremely flat, which I believe is due to the physicality of the game on Monday, so we had to get refocused at half. Our full-court pressure definitely got us back in the game and enabled us to force the turnovers we needed to score some easy buckets.”
Key Stats and Individual Performances
Three Florida Atlantic players scored in double figures, led by Jess Moors with a team-high 15 points, shooting 57% from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Moors also led the team with three assists, three steals, and one rebound. Destyne Jackson and Vivian Onugha each contributed 14 points, with Onugha leading the Owls in rebounding with seven boards and adding a block.
The Owls showcased their offensive prowess, outshooting the Falcons 59.6% to 44.6% from the field, 50% to 42.1% from beyond the arc, and 78.9% to 76.5% from the free-throw line. They also dominated the boards, outrebounding Air Force 29-23.
Up Next for the Owls
The Florida Atlantic Owls have a quick turnaround, preparing to face the Wright State Raiders on Friday at 1 p.m. on ESPN+ at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.
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Florida Atlantic’s 2025-26 season is sponsored by Flagler Credit Union.
