BOCA RATON, Fla. (Interstat) — In a grinding American Athletic Conference rematch defined by defense and missed opportunities, the Florida Atlantic Owls secured a season sweep of the UAB Blazers with a 68-63 victory on Saturday at FAU Gymnasium.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 738, was a stark contrast to the teams’ first meeting a month prior, which Florida Atlantic won 70-63. This iteration was a lower-scoring, possession-by-possession battle where neither team led by more than nine points and the outcome remained in doubt until the final seconds.

The most critical phase of the contest arrived in the fourth quarter. UAB, which had fought back from a slow start that saw them score only six first-quarter points, had clawed to within a single possession multiple times in the second half. With just over two minutes remaining and trailing 64-62, the Blazers had a chance to tie or take the lead. However, a turnover by Sofia Munoz was followed by a crucial steal from Florida Atlantic’s Vivian Onugha, snuffing out a key UAB possession.

After a series of timeouts and free throws, UAB’s Journey Armstead made one of two foul shots with 26 seconds left to cut the deficit to 66-64. On the ensuing inbound, Florida Atlantic’s Erin Rodgers, the game’s standout performer, delivered the decisive blow. She took a pass from Michiyah Simmons, drove into the lane, and converted a tough layup while drawing a foul with 19 seconds on the clock. Rodgers missed the subsequent free throw, but her basket pushed the lead to 68-64, forcing UAB to seek a three-pointer on its final meaningful possession.

The Blazers’ Cali Smallwood missed a three-point attempt with five seconds left, and Florida Atlantic secured the defensive rebound to effectively seal the game. The Owls survived despite shooting a dismal 12 for 24 from the free-throw line, including several misses in the final period.

Rodgers, a 6-foot guard from Lawrenceville, Georgia, was the engine for Florida Atlantic. She finished with a game-high 25 points, adding four rebounds in 27 minutes. Her performance included timely three-pointers and the critical late-game basket that provided the necessary cushion. She was supported by Onugha, who posted 10 points and seven rebounds, providing a strong interior presence.

UAB was led by a balanced effort. Sofia Munoz of Canovanas, Puerto Rico, tallied 10 points and five assists over 34 minutes, directing the Blazers’ offense. Molly Moffitt of Seattle contributed 12 points and five rebounds, while Cali Smallwood of Blountsville, Alabama, added 11 points, four rebounds and a key block. Journey Armstead of Tulsa, Oklahoma, chipped in seven points, four rebounds and five assists.

Statistically, the game was won on the margins where Florida Atlantic held distinct advantages. The Owls outrebounded UAB 36-24 overall and dominated the offensive glass, grabbing nine offensive rebounds to UAB’s two, leading to 13 second-chance points. Florida Atlantic also committed only eight turnovers compared to UAB’s 14, leading to an 8-5 edge in points off turnovers. The Owls were more efficient offensively, scoring 68 points on 64 possessions for a rating of 105.6, while UAB managed 63 points on 67 possessions for a 93.7 rating.

Both teams struggled from the perimeter, each making 6 of 20 three-point attempts. The difference came inside, where Florida Atlantic outscored UAB 32-24 in the paint, and at the free-throw line, where the Owls’ volume, despite poor percentage, proved significant.

With the win, Florida Atlantic improved to 10-13 overall. UAB fell to 9-14. The victory gave the Owls a modest two-game winning streak in conference play following their road loss at North Texas earlier in the week. UAB, which had won two of its last three coming in, saw its momentum halted.

The game played out closely to the pregame projections from Interstat’s ELO system, which gave Florida Atlantic a narrow 50.30 percent probability to win at home. The result sets both teams on their paths for the final stretch of the regular season, with Florida Atlantic set to visit Wichita State on Tuesday and UAB preparing to host Memphis the same night.