LAKELAND, Fla. '" The Florida Gulf Coast University women'™s basketball team stretched its season opening winning streak to seven games Tuesday evening, defeating Florida Southern College 79-39 at the Jenkins Field House. All seven of the Eagles victories this season have been by at least 30 points. The Eagles held the Moccasins scoreless for the first 4:06 of the game, building an 11-0 lead, highlighted by five points from senior forward Alex Kwiecinska. After Florida Southern cut the lead to seven (26-19), FGCU went on a 17-2 run to cruise to a 44-22 halftime lead. Six players had at least four points at the break for FGCU. With a 10-2 run to open the second half, FGCU led by better than 20 points for the entire second half. The Eagles held the Mocs to just 22% shooting from the floor for the game and forced 27 turnovers to hold their opposition to 40 points or less for the fifth straight game. The Eagles won the rebounding battle handily, 52-23. Senior guard Candy Myers led the Eagles in scoring with 19 points while junior forward Katie Schrader posted her second double-double this season with 13 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Senior guard Ebonie Halliburton had 10 points and nine rebounds and junior forward Jen Conely also had 10 points for the Eagles. Freshman guard Princess Stewart had five of FGCU'™s 13 steals in the contest. The win was the 75th at FGCU for Eagles head coach Karl Smesko. Florida Southern (2-3) was led by Willamina Folks with 11 points and 12 rebounds. FGCU will play in the Valdosta State tournament this weekend. The Eagles face the host Blazers on Saturday night at 6 p.m. and play the University of West Georgia on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.