FORT MYERS, Fla. - Erica Nelson came through with some clutch plays down the stretch for the FGCU women's basketball team to seal a 63-58 win over Jacksonville in Alico Arena on Saturday.

With the victory, FGCU (20-3, 6-0 ASUN) not only gained sole possession of first place in the ASUN standings, but they have now won 10 straight and 14 of the past 15. It is the eighth straight season for the program with at least a 10 game winning steak and the 14th straight with at least 20 wins overall.

Jacksonville (15-6, 5-1 ASUN) entered the game having won six straight and 11 of 12 with the only loss coming to No. 8 Florida State.

"It was a very tough game. It was probably the most physical game we've played all season," FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. "I thought Jacksonville played with a lot of energy. They played very physical. We got fortunate that some of their best players got in foul trouble, and we got fortunate that they missed some foul shots down the stretch. But, we feel really good about beating a good team. Despite getting beat on the boards, we found a way to compensate and get the win."

Nelson (Kansas City, Mo./Lee Summit North HS) produced four points on free throws in the final quarter, including two with 23 seconds left to give FGCU a five point lead. On the ensuing Jacksonville possession, Nelson blocked a 3-point attempt from Brandi Buie. China Dow rebounded, and the Eagles ran out the clock as the Dolphins chose not to foul.

Overall, Nelson finished with a team-high 14 points along with three rebounds. She made 9-for-10 from the foul line, which signifies a new career-high for the senior guard in made free throws.

Outside of Nelson, Nasrin Ulel (13), China Dow (12) and Rosemarie Julien (11) also reached double figures, while Taylor Gradinjan had a team-high six rebounds along with her seven points. Lisa Zderadicka had a team-high in assists (4) and steals (3).

Tytionia Adderly (Jupiter, Fla./Cardinal Newman HS), who averages more rebounds per game than anyone else in the program's Division-I era, exited with an injury after just five minutes. She had two points and one rebound.

Early on, Jacksonville opened up an 8-4 lead behind a pair of 3-pointers from Lindsay John. Julien (Port St. Lucie, Fla./Treasure Coast HS) answered with three free throws to start a 9-0 run. Dow (Louisville, Ky./Christian Academy of Louisville) closed the run with a three-point play and a 3-pointer for a 13-8 lead just under five minutes in.

From there, the quarter went back-and-forth, and Ulel (Murrietta, Calif./Murrietta HS) closed the first with a 3-pointer to give the Eagles a 19-18 lead.

Nelson and Ulel finished on back-to-back layups four minutes later to give FGCU a 25-20 lead. A layup from Dow pushed the margin to six with just under three left, but Jacksonville banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to pull within one at the half.

The visitors kept the momentum going to open the second half by scoring four straight and taking a three-point lead. Ulel's 3-pointer on a fast break, followed by a layup from Zderadicka (Vienna, Austria/HAK Korneuburg) gave FGCU a 40-37 lead with 5:13 left in the quarter.

The lead stretched to six on a pair of occasions down the stretch before Nelson hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Eagles a 53-44 lead heading to the fourth.

Four minutes later, the lead was down to four following a 3-pointer from Brandi Buie, but Julien sped back in transition for a layup. Gradinjan (Cudahy, Wis./Cudahy HS) made one of two at the foul line for a 61-56 lead with 2:42 left, but Buie answered with a pair of free throws to make it a one possession game five seconds later.

Following that, Jacksonville missed two field goal attempts and four free throws combined on back-to-back possessions. FGCU came up empty on the other end, but the Dolphins missed three consecutive 3-pointers on their next possession.

A charge on Dow led to another missed 3-point attempt, but Nelson got the rebound, which set up her game-winning free throws and block.

NOTES
FGCU is now the only Division-I school in the country with an undefeated conference slate so far in both women's and men's basketball. Bethune Cookman was the only other school entering Saturday, and their men lost to Norfolk State at the buzzer.

Saturday's game featured the conference's top 3-point shooting team (FGCU) and the top team at defending it (Jacksonville). The Eagles were held to their second fewest total attempts this year (15) behind the 14 attempted vs DePaul on Nov. 23, and the six makes were also the second fewest behind the DePaul game (2).

FGCU is now 20-0 this year when forcing at least 15 turnovers. Against Jacksonville, they created 18 points off 17 turnovers. 

The Eagles are 12-0 at home this year, and they're now 21-3 all-time against Jacksonville. That includes a 13-1 record in Alico.

Additionally, FGCU is the only team in the ASUN with four players averaging double figures in scoring.

Head coach Karl Smesko completed his 597th career game vs Jacksonville as he inches closer to a career milestone. He is 485-112 overall.

Gradinjan now has 1,115 career points. She is 21 shy of eclipsing Stephanie Haas (1,135, 2012-16) for seventh place on the all-time list. Her two field goals made give her 383 total, which is three shy of passing Kelsey Jacobson (385, 2008-12) for seventh all-time.

Julien (.818, 117-143) remains just shy of Kelsey Jacobson (.819, 163-199) for the all-time free throw percentage record. Gradinjan (458) remains 10 rebounds ahead of Adderly for seventh place on the career list. The senior guard also tied Katie Meador (135, 2012-16) for third place on the career games played list, and she is six starts shy of passing Adrianne McNally (118, 2006-10) for second most all-time.
 

FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-the-minute information and behind-the-scenes access to the women's basketball program, follow @FGCU_WBB on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook at /FGCUWBB.

COACH SMESKO
FGCU head coach Karl Smesko rallied the 2016-17 Eagles to their seventh-straight 25-win campaign, which culminated in the team's fourth NCAA tournament appearance in six seasons of eligibility. The seven-time ASUN Coach of the Year was named the espnW Mid-Major Coach of the Year in 2015-16 following a run that witnessed the Eagles finish a best-ever 33-6. Over a five-year stretch starting in 2011-12, FGCU racked up four ASUN seasons with a perfect record and capped the run with back-to-back 30 plus win seasons. In 2014-15, the team earned its first top-25 ranking and another NCAA Tournament trip as a seven seed, where FGCU won its first ever NCAA Division-I Tournament game against No. 10 Oklahoma State. With 26 wins in 2016-17, Smesko has guided the Eagles to 13-straight 20-win seasons. He maintains a record of 424-85 (.832) at FGCU, including a 163-15 (.915) mark in ASUN play. Over the past six + seasons, he has guided FGCU to a 99-3 (.970) record in conference play with four undefeated seasons. Smesko earned his 400th career coaching win in 2014-15 in just 493 career games, two games faster than UConn's Geno Auriemma. He holds a career head coaching record of 485-112 (.811). Smesko ranks among an elite list of just four active Division I coaches with a career win percentage of .800 or higher, joining Auriemma, Baylor's Kim Mulkey and Stanford's Tara VanDerveer in the esteemed group.

SUPPORT THE CAUSE 
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help.

WATCH PARTY
Miller's Ale House in Gulf Coast Town Center will serve as the official watch party destination for all remaining women's and men's basketball road games for the 2017-18 season. The establishment has invested in HD streaming equipment, giving fans the opportunity to watch in outstanding quality on ESPN3, while offering discounts during the game.
 
Those with an FGCU or Eagles Club ID will receive 10 percent off their bill. Those who bring an FGCU Basketball ticket stub will receive $5 off their $25 bill (or higher). Additionally, those simply wearing FGCU gear will receive $5 zingers.