The Florida Atlantic University women’s basketball team lost to East Carolina University 74-61 on Tuesday at Williams Arena in Greenville, North Carolina. With this result, the Owls’ season record moves to 12-14 overall and 6-8 in American Athletic Conference play. East Carolina improves to 20-7 overall and 12-2 in conference games.
The game began with Erin Rodgers scoring the first points for FAU after ECU took an early lead. East Carolina’s full-court pressure resulted in several turnovers by FAU, allowing the Pirates to build an 11-4 advantage. Madi Gewirtz hit a three-pointer that helped reduce the deficit, but by the end of the first quarter, FAU had committed 12 turnovers and trailed 19-11.
In the second quarter, FAU forced multiple turnovers but struggled offensively while ECU went on an eight-point run. Vivian Onugha scored consecutive layups for FAU before halftime, but ECU maintained control and led 42-22 at the break.
Rodgers opened scoring again for FAU in the third quarter as defensive stops led to transition baskets for the Owls. Grace Carstensen and Gewirtz each made three-pointers during this period. Despite forcing ECU into ten straight missed shots late in the third quarter, FAU entered the final period down by thirteen points.
In the fourth quarter, Rodgers continued to contribute on both ends of the court while Onugha also added key baskets. Jess Moors assisted Rodgers on a layup that cut ECU’s lead to single digits with just over four minutes left. Gewirtz made her third three-pointer of the night as time wound down, bringing FAU within eight points with less than two minutes remaining. However, East Carolina maintained their lead until the final buzzer.
Afterward, head coach LeAnn Freeland said: “Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to prepare live for the type of pressure ECU applies in the full court, so we turned it over too much in the first half. In the second half, we got organized and executed very well. I’m proud of our players’ effort and composure throughout the game.”
Rodgers led all scorers for FAU with 16 points and recorded her first double-double of this season with eleven rebounds. Moors set a new career-high with eleven assists—the most by any Owl player this season—while Gewirtz finished with three successful three-point attempts.
Despite losing, Florida Atlantic shot better from both field goal range (47 percent) and beyond-the-arc (31 percent) compared to East Carolina’s percentages (36 percent field goals; 19 percent threes).
Florida Atlantic will conclude its two-game road trip against South Florida on Saturday at Yuengling Center in Tampa.
