Before tipping-off the 2024-25 regular season, Florida Atlantic hosted Fort Lauderdale (0-2) for the first time in the now 41 years of FAU women's basketball history. FAU, with only five returners, had many questions, but most of the questions were answered during the evening with the Owls gaining the victory over the Eagles in dominant fashion.

Right from the tip-off the Owls were in possession of the game. Within the first 1:14 of game time FAU had a 7-0 lead while forcing three Eagles turnovers. Florida Atlantic's lead grew with the help of a 12-point run to earn the 25-4 advantage over Fort Lauderdale. The FAU defense went off in the final minute causing three consecutive turnovers to end the first quarter with a 31-10 lead.



It was a slow start in the second quarter for both teams as FAU scored four early points, but spent close to two minutes looking for another bucket. After the next bucket hit though, the Owls went on a 6-0 run capped off by a Jada Moore (pictured below, Angelina LaBelle) score on a fast break. At the media timeout FAU had a 41-12 advantage. FAU's offense was on fire coming out of the break. The Owls were six of their last six on field goal attempts including Freshman Sydney Mains making back-to-back threes: Owls up 52-16. The first half closed with Florida Atlantic going on an 11 of 11 FG run with a 13-2 run over the final 2:27 of the half. At the break FAU led 63-18.



FAU stretched their lead to 50 before a media timeout with six minutes left in the third. Making four FGs in a row helped to stretch the lead early for the Owls as they led 73-23. At the next stoppage of play, FAU had a 54 point lead with a 12-2 run benefitting the Owls dominant day. The back half of the third quarter was played by lesser tenured members of the team with Florida Atlantic stretching their lead to 59 after an Erin Rodgers buzzer-beater to close out the third. It was all Owls: 86-27.

The starting five made their way onto the court to start the fourth quarter. FAU went on a 10-2 run before the media timeout with Fort Lauderdale being held to just 11 points in the second half, 96-29 Florida Atlantic. An Alana Rouser lay-up broke the century mark for the Owls, the first time since a 2022 exhibition win over St. Thomas University. FAU went on a 17-0 run to close out the game. Florida Atlantic defeated the University of Fort Lauderdale 111-29 to earn the first victory in the series.



Jenks had herself a night. The Cincinnati transfer finished the evening with a double-double as she scored 15 points and grabbed 11 boards, making her the team leader on the evening in rebounds. FAU finished with 44 rebounds. Erin Rodgers and Mya Perry (top picture, Angelina LaBelle) led the Owls in scoring with a total of 17 points. As a team the Owls shot 61.3% on FGs with a 34.5% clip on three point FG's. Kristi Godfrey and Stefani Ingram led in assists with each totaling eight as Florida Atlantic garnered 27 on the evening.

The 2024-25 season starts on the road for Florida Atlantic as they head to Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators. Last season the Gators finished with a 16-16 record while positing a 5-11 conference record in the SEC. Head coach Kelly Rae Finley brought in the tenth rated recruiting class of the 2024 cycle for UF. The all time series mark sits in favor of the Gators with FAU being 1-7 in the series. Tip-off between the Owls and Gators is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4.