Coley misses game-winning shot as time expires

By: Brandon Wise/ Asst. Sports Director

A campus-wide power surge delayed the start of the FAU-FIU game, but it could not delay the Panthers struggles in the paint or from the three-point line in a gritty 50-49 loss to the Owls at the U.S. Century Bank Arena.

With six seconds left in the game, the Panthers were down one with Jerica Coley driving up the court. She sprinted all the way down the court, but lost control of the ball and it went out of bounds. However, it deflected off of an Owl and the Panther got one more chance with 1.7 seconds to go. Coley described the play call.

“It was a play that we normally run,” Coley said. “It worked out well, I just missed the shot. I was trying to attack the basket to find whatever was open.”

Coley, the “do it all Panther,” led all scorers with 21 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. She struggled early on to find her shot, going 4-9 and 1-3 form three-point range.

FAU then had a chance to seal the game when Latavia Dempsey put up a three that went begging but Takia Brooks pulled down the rebound. FAU then was able to take more time off the clock before finally deciding to call a timeout with 17.3 seconds left in the game. Their shot missed, giving Coley and the Panthers their final shot to get the win.

Finda Mansare only saw limited action, as she picked up two fouls in the first three minutes of the game. When she did re-enter the game, she picked up another foul in just nine seconds. Head Coach Cindy Russo saw her struggling early and it continued throughout the game.

“[Mansare] never really found her game tonight. She only shot six times,” Russo said. “I’m sure she got paralyzed because she knew she was in foul trouble.”

The game see-sawed back and forth with 14 different lead changes and the largest lead, seven, coming just three minutes into the game.

Brooks and Kimberly Smith both hit key three-point shots with under five minutes left in the game to keep the Owls ahead. The Owls shot 6-13 on the night from three-point range.

The game was lost in the paint, where the Panthers were dominated on the glass, getting out-rebounded 34-24. Russo wasn’t thrilled.

“We squeaked one out up in South Alabama where we got terribly out rebounded,” Russo said. “They are going to have to make a decision because were not going to win a whole lot more games unless were on the boards.”

Coming out of a timeout, Teri Stamps drilled a three off of the in bounds pass to give the Owls the lead at 50-47. Stamps ended the game with eight of the Owls 50 points.

Despite forcing 18 turnovers, the Panthers could not capitalize and shot only 45.2% for the game, where they also had 13 turnovers themselves.