FORT MYERS, Fla. – For the fourth straight game the FGCU women's basketball team had at least four players in double figures as the Eagles knocked off Bethune-Cookman by a score of 80-48 on Tuesday night at Alico Arena.
With the win, FGCU improves their record to 7-3 overall (2-0 A-Sun) while the Wildcats fall to 4-8 (0-1 MEAC).
Junior Shannon Murphy (Brighton, Mich.) led all scorers with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 4-of-5 from behind the arc. Junior Eglah Griffin (Fort Myers, Fla.) also chipped in 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting (3-of-4 from long range). As a team, the Blue and Green knocked down 12 3-pointers.
Senior Adrianne McNally (Howell, Mich.) had 15 points and five rebounds, while hitting 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. Senior Chelsea Lyles (Colorado Springs, Colo.) registered ten points in 26 minutes of action.
Though the Wildcats only hit five shots from the field in the first half, they were able to stay in the game early, as the lead was no more than nine until 6:22 remaining in the opening period before sophomore Courtney Chihil (Tipp City, Ohio) hit a three-pointer to give FGCU a ten point lead (19-9). The Eagles didn't look back as they went on a 7-2 run, capped by a Murphy 3-pointer, ending the half up by 14 points (28-14).
The Eagles continued to make it rain in the second half and after a pair of McNally free-throws, FGCU found themselves up by 24 points with 8:45 left (59-35). Sophomore Kelsey Jacobson (Barnesville, Minn.) collected her own rebound and knocked down a three, giving the Blue and Green a 27-point lead (62-35). The biggest lead of the night came with 1:38 remaining in regulation when junior Shavonne Butler (New Orleans, La.) hit a lay-up increasing FGCU's lead to 37 (79-42).
FGCU scored a season-high 52 points in the second half, draining nine from behind the arc and shooting 18-of-30 (60-percent) from the field.
The Eagles will be back in action as they travel to Nashville, Tennessee's Curb Event Center to battle Belmont University on Jan. 2 at 3:00 p.m. FGCU lands back at home on Jan. 7 when they play host to the Ospreys of North Florida, tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m.
