The Lady Owls (13-11) lost a close game at home to Middle Tennessee (21-4) on Feb. 15. After closing a large first-half deficit, they faltered down the stretch and saw the game slip out of reach.

An 11-0 run gave MTSU a 34-20 lead with four minutes remaining in the half. The Lady Owls put themselves back in contention after a 9-0 run, and went into halftime down 41-39 after a missed boxout led to an MTSU score just before the buzzer. MTSU scored just seven points in the last six minutes of the half.

FAU shot 35 percent in the first half and kept the game close because of solid shooting from 3-point range. They hit seven 3-pointers (MTSU hit three), offsetting MTSU’s advantage as far as points in the paint.

Trailing 64-62 with just under eight minutes remaining, MTSU forward Ebony Rowe began to impose her will on an FAU frontcourt that looked both tired and overwhelmed. Rowe scored eight points in the next two minutes, and finished with 32 points and 13 rebounds.

FAU guard Shaneese Bailey played just 10 minutes on the night, but pulled down a rebound in traffic that led to a 3-pointer by guard Aaliyah Dotson that tied the game at 72 with just over four minutes remaining in the game.

Dotson missed three crucial free throws in the late stages of the game that put her team in a tough spot, and after MTSU converted their own free throws, the game ended 83-77 in their favor.

The Lady Owls have lost four of their last six games and will look to get back on track versus Charlotte on Feb. 19.

Wesley Wright is the Sports Editor of the University Press. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NotEvenWes.