Fort Myers, Fla. - Delia De La Torre scored a career-high 18 points and led the FGCU women's basketball team to its first victory as a Division 1 program as they clawed past Central Connecticut State 71-52 at the FGCU Thanksgiving Classic in Alico Arena.

FGCU (1-1) is now 82-7 all-time at home.  

Central Connecticut State (0-4) started the game on a 7-2 run, but the Eagles responded and tied the game at 19-19 off of Ashley Haegele's lay-up with 11:40 left in the first half. FGCU took control from that point on and would never relinquish their lead. The Eagles would go on to win by the final score of 71-52.

The Eagles were led by De La Torre's (Las Cruces, N.M.) career-high 18 points. De La Torre shot 7-of-12 from the field and pulled down six rebounds. Haegele (Imperial, Mo.) added 14 points and snagged seven rebounds. Adrianne McNally (Howell, Mich.) contributed 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 from long-range. Chelsea Dermyer (Fort Collins, Col.) played a solid game at point guard for the Eagles and registered 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and no turnovers.

Danica Covington led the way for the Blue Devils with 15 points and eight rebounds while Emily Rose finished with 9.

The Eagles will be in action on Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. when they meet Eastern Kentucky in the championship game of the FGCU Thanksgiving Classic.

Notes:

-Chelsea Dermyer has 7 assists and NO turnovers through FGCU's first two games of the season.

-Delia De La Torre's 18 points, eclipse her previous career-high of 16 points that she scored agaist Puerto Rico Bayamon on Feb. 19, 2007.