(Boca Raton, Fla.) – Weekend host Florida Atlantic (4-0) drained 14 3-pointers in the opening game of its Thanksgiving Tournament, including 11 in the first half, as the Delaware State women's basketball team (0-5) suffered an 83-55 loss Friday afternoon.
With this defeat, the Lady Hornets dropped their 14th in a row dating back to last season, whereas the Owls' 4-0 start to a season is the best since 1991-92.
Leading the way during FAU's hot start was the tandem of Kat Wright and Malia Kency registering 12 points each on a perfect 4-for-4 effort from beyond the arc, whereas guard Ali Gorrell drained two treys. As a team, the Owls not only shot 50 percent (19-of-38) from the field, but dished out 16 assists with six players tallying at least two, led by Gorrell (3).
DSU, on the other hand, led 5-2 in the early going, thanks to freshman NaJai Pollard scoring each bucket. Nevertheless, the Hornets failed sustain their early start, as they were limited to 31 percent (11-of-36) shooting in the opening half trailing 51-25 at the break.
In the second half, the Owls cooled down from long distance, going just 3-for-11 (.448). For DSU, it managed to outscore the Owls in the third quarter (17-14), but FAU's first half effort's was too much for the Lady Hornets to overcome.
When the final buzzer sounded, Kency (19), Wright (18) and Gorrell (10) finished the afternoon in double figures, while forward Sasha Cedeno dished out six of FAU's 24 assists. Delaware State was led by Pollard's 12 points (4-of-8)), as the only Lady Hornet to score in double figures.
Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will conclude FAU's Thanksgiving Tournament against the loser of Appalachian State and South Dakota tomorrow at 12 p.m.
Stingers
This is DSU's first 0-5 start to a season since 2002-03… DSU's 55 points was a season-high… Guard N'Kayah Kersey hit one 3-pointer to push her career total 70, as she now sits ninth on DSU's all-time list for most treys made… FAU's bench outscored DSU, 41-32, thanks to Kency's game-high 19 points (6-of-9)… DSU has been held under 40 percent shooting every game this season… The Owls won the battle on the boards, 51-31… Guard Bri Justice collected a game-high four steals, which set a new career mark.
