Alex Slitz/Daily NewsWestern Kentucky teammates Arnika Brown (from left), Hope Brown and LaTeira Owens celebrate Sunday during the Lady Toppers’ 73-46 win over Florida Atlantic at E.A. Diddle Arena. — Click here to see more photos from the Lady Toppers' game.

The Western Kentucky women’s basketball team took out a season of frustrations in a 40-minute span Sunday, smashing Florida Atlantic 73-46 at E.A. Diddle Arena.

WKU (7-11 overall, 4-2 Sun Belt Conference) used a strong defensive effort in the first half to take control and shot 53 percent in the second half to snap a two-game losing streak and cruise to its most one-sided victory of the season.

WKU coach Mary Taylor Cowles said it was a much needed win after road losses at North Dakota and South Alabama last week.

“The obvious is, that kind of win is a lot more fun,” Cowles said. “I’m very proud of our team to get themselves in position to have a lead, but even more so in the second half to find a way to extend that. That means that we remained focused. We did not play a perfect basketball game, nor have I seen one at any point in time, but I just thought the big key was we were able to maintain the focus and extend the lead.”

WKU shot 29.7 percent in the first half, and still managed to build a comfortable double-digit advantage, holding Florida Atlantic (4-13, 1-5) to just under 27 percent.

After missing its first six field goals, four on the opening possession, LaTeira Owens’ layup fueled a 16-0 run that gave WKU a 16-4 lead less than eight minutes into the game.

The Lady Toppers stretched the advantage to 30-11 after a layup from Teranie Thomas with two minutes left before the Owls scored six straight in to trim the deficit to 13 at the half.

FAU finished 8 for 30 from the field in the first half, 0 for 6 from 3-point range. The Owls also committed 10 turnovers that led to 13 points for WKU.

“Up until that last minute-and-a-half letdown we had to close the half, they had scored 11 points,” Cowles said. “That’s pretty good defense to hold a team to 11 points.”

The defense continued to shine in the second half, but the offense took center stage, with WKU scoring 43 points. The Lady Toppers shot 53.3 percent and had four players score in double figures. WKU used a 10-0 run early in the second half to take its first 20-point lead at any point of the season and cruised from there, leading by as many as 29.

“I don’t think so much that it was an easy victory,” senior forward Arnika Brown said. “I think we just stuck to the game plan. We knew they were a good athletic team, but we just kept our heads in the game for 40 minutes and we just played hard.

“We gained a lot of confidence off this game. It was well needed and we plan on building from here and move forward.”

— Click here to see photos from the Lady Toppers’ game.

Cowles added the win was a good statement for a team trying to turn around a season that has been disappointing to date.

“What everyone needs to realize is, they don’t enjoy losing,” Cowles said. “The fact that we haven’t been this way in 30 years, they don’t enjoy that. They understand that we’ve not been there and they are wanting and willing to do what they can to solve that and make it better. I think that is what you saw today.

“I’m not only proud of the win, but the way we did it. We did it with a little bit of an attitude today and we needed to.”

Janae Howard led the Lady Toppers in scoring with 16 points off the bench. Brown recorded her fourth straight double-double, finishing with 13 points 10 rebounds, while Owens had her second straight double-double – and fifth of the season – finishing with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Thomas added 12 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes before leaving the game early in the second half with an ankle injury.

WKU shot 40.3 percent and outrebounded FAU 50-36.

Vontrice Dennis was the only Owl to score in double figures, finishing with 11 points. Florida Atlantic finished the game 19 for 55 from the field with 22 turnovers that led to 31 points for the Lady Toppers.

WKU will take the week off before returning to action at 3 p.m. Saturday, when it hosts Troy.