Florida Atlantic women’s basketball blew a 10-point second-half lead on Thursday night against Florida International in the Owls ninth straight loss.

The Owls (4-15, 0-8 Conference USA) scored 12 of the second half’s initial 16 points to take their 10-point lead with 5:38 remaining in the third quarter. The Golden Panthers (5-14, 3-5 Conference USA) scored the next six points before eventually tying the game at 49 three minutes into the final quarter.

The basket marked senior Janka Hegedus’ fifth of her 11 fourth-quarter points. She finished with 17 points, trailing teammate Tianah Alvarado’s game-high 22 points.

FAU sophomore Ra’Kyra Gabriel checked back into the game with the score tied at 49. She saw FIU knock down a free throw to take its first lead of the second half, then turned an offensive rebound into a basket and scored on the following possession as the Owls retook their lead.

Trailing by one with less than a minute left, FIU looked to Hegedus, who the team targeted for much of the night. She scored her final basket of the game to give her team the lead.

In the remaining time, FAU lost the ball while dribbling, then turned it over again via a five-second inbound violation.

Freshman Julia Jenike scored the Owls first seven points of the game and finished with 14 points. In the first quarter, she made 2-of-3 shots attempts, while the rest of her team made 1-of-12.

Junior Malia Kency led the team with 15 points.

The Owls have Saturday off, and will return to action when they host Charlotte on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m.

Brendan Feeney is the managing editor of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @feeney42.