Owls Open Season Tuesday vs. Florida Memorial

Tuesday, November 4

Boca Raton, Fla.

7 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

Florida Memorial

Tickets

11/3/2025 6:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Watch Live Live Stats Game Notes (PDF)

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic women's basketball will tip off the 2025-26 season on Tuesday, hosting the Florida Memorial Lions for a 7 p.m. tip off inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena on ESPN+.

The Owls' season opener is sponsored by Flagler Credit Union. Fans in attendance will receive a free rally towel.

A LOOK AT THE OWLS

Florida Atlantic enters its inaugural season under Head Coach LeAnn Freeland. Freeland brings a winning culture to Boca Raton, boasting a 363-159 career record over her 17 seasons as a head coach, including six conference championships, 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, four Elite Eight appearances, and one Final Four appearance.
The Owls' return Ta'Ziah Jenks, Erin Rodgers, and Zahira Arizmendi from last year's squad.
Rodgers highlights the Owls' returners, who led the team last season in rebounding per contest, averaging 5.6 rebounds per game, and finished second on the team in scoring average, recording 12 points per game during the 2024-25 campaign.
Jenks ranked third on the team last season in rebounding, averaging 5.3 rebounds per game. She is also the Owls' returning leader in steals and assists, averaging 1.2 steals and 1.0 assists per game last season.
The Owls also welcome eight newcomers, including Destyne Jackson, Grace Carstensen, Jess Moors, Michiyah Simmons, Ineivi Plata, Haley Walker, Madi Gewirtz, and Vivian Onugha.

SCOUTING FLORIDA MEMORIAL

Florida Memorial enters Tuesday's contest at 1-0 overall after opening their season with a 74-47 win against the University of Fort Lauderdale. Last season, the Lions finished with a 24-5 overall record and a 13-3 mark in Sun Conference play. FMU earned its first-ever NAIA Tournament win, defeating Indiana Northwest 85-76 in the opening round, before concluding its season with a 68-47 loss against Freed-Hardeman in the second round.
The Lions are in their second season under head coach Kevin Herod.
FMU returns two from its 2024-25 squad in Alicia Bates and Kalea Rainey and welcomes nine newcomers.
Rainey and Sa'mya Stevens lead the Lions, tying for a team-best 15 points in their season opener. Stevens also leads the Lions in assists, dishing out a team-best seven against Fort Lauderdale.
Jazlynn Givens leads FMU in rebounding, collecting seven rebounds to open the season.
Defensively, Alicia Bates is the Lions' steals leader, collecting a team-leading nine steals, and Aalexuz Bourne leads the team in blocks, recording the Lions' sole block vs. Fort Lauderdale.

SERIES HISTORY

Tuesday will mark the 22^nd all-time meeting between Florida Atlantic and Florida Memorial. The Owls hold a 20-1 all-time lead against the Lions and have won the last 14 matchups between the two programs. In the last meeting between the two squads, the Owls captured a 71-63 win on Dec. 7, 2021, at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena in Boca Raton.

SEASON PREVIEW

UP NEXT

Following Tuesday's contest, the Owls will open a three-game road stretch, beginning with a trip to Kennesaw, Georgia, on Saturday, Nov. 8, to face off against the Kennesaw State Owls. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET inside the KSU Convocation Center and on ESPN+.

FOLLOW THE OWLS
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