After shooting over 50 percent in the first quarter, FAU women’s basketball shot just 25 percent the rest of the way in a 65-51 loss to North Texas Saturday.

The Owls (10-11, 4-6 C-USA) lose their fourth straight game and sixth of their last eight. The loss brings their overall record below .500 overall for the first time since a loss to Grand Canyon back on Dec. 1, 2017 dropped them to 3-4.

The Mean Green (13-10, 4-7 C-USA) win their second straight following a season-long five game losing streak. The win gives them sole possession of 10th place in the conference standings.

After outscoring the Mean Green by nine (21-12) in the first quarter and shooting over 50 percent, the Owls only made three baskets in the second quarter. They would have gone into halftime tied at 28, if not for a three pointer with one second left in the half by senior guard Malia Kency.

North Texas opened the second half on a 14-0 run to take a 42-31 lead. The Owls couldn’t get any closer than five after that being outscored 37-20 in the second half.

After making nine field goals in the first quarter the Owls managed to just make eight overall in the final three quarters combined.

“We lacked discipline, leadership, intensity, and focus,” said FAU head women’s basketball coach Jim Jabir. “When things aren’t going for us, we kind of go away.”

It was the Owls lowest scoring game all season and lowest since scoring 50 against UTEP on Jan. 14 of last season.

They came into the game leading the conference in rebounds per game averaging 43.7 but were outrebounded 33-32. The Mean Green took advantage of their second chances, scoring 13 while the Owls could only muster two.

The Mean Green bench outscored the Owls by 33, 37-4.

“This is who we are,” Jabir said. “This is who we’ve been. We’ve shown flashes but tonight we couldn’t do it long enough and we couldn’t play the way we needed to play.”

The Owls were led by senior forward Sasha Cedeno who had a near double-double at halftime, being two away in both points and rebounds. She eventually got the double-double, finishing with a team-high 20 points and 10 boards. She shot 46 percent overall and was perfect from the free throw line.

Redshirt junior guard Danneal Ford was able to score in double digits for the 11th straight game, scoring 12. She also had five rebounds and three assists.

North Texas was led by guard Terriell Bradley, who scored in double figures for her 11th straight game. She shot 50 percent overall and led all scores with 20 points overall.

She was also 7-of-8 from the charity stripe and had five rebounds.

Guard Lauren Holmes tied her career high, making four three pointers. She shot 6-of-12 overall for 18 points and also grabbed nine rebounds.

The Owls next game is away on Wednesday, Feb. 14 at Old Dominion at 7:00 p.m.

Matt Brown is a contributing writer with the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @mattyb407.