FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball tamed the Kentucky Wildcats Sunday and protected Alico Arena with a 59-48 win.
FGCU has defeated Kentucky in back-to-back seasons and remained a perfect 3-0 in the all-time series dating back to 2017. The win also marked the 24th Power Five win in program history.
"This is a new team that we have this year," head coach Karl Smesko said. "It definitely feels good to win against a Power Five team this year. They were a little shorthanded. We didn't finish the game very strong, so there are going to be some things to work on. There were some really good bright spots, especially how we started the second half."
Kentucky had no answer for FGCU's explosive start as the Eagles jumped out to an 11-0 lead just three minutes into the contest.
FGCU would lead the Wildcats 18-7 at the end of the first quarter. Both squads matched their opponent's second-quarter offensive output, scoring 12 points each. FGCU headed into the break with a 11-point lead, 30-19
The Eagles turned in a game-defying sequence in the third quarter. Ajulu Thatha stole the ball from a driving Wildcat, leading to a Dolly Cairns corner three in transition. On the very next play, Uju Ezeudu knocked away a Kentucky pass and fed Sofia Persson up ahead in the opposite corner for another three to extend their lead to 42-21 – forcing a Kentucky timeout.
After 30 minutes, FGCU held its largest lead of the day at 55-31.
Kentucky put up a fight and clawed back in the final quarter, trying to work some magic in the paint. In fact, the Wildcats opened the fourth with a 13-0 run to draw within 11 at 55-44 with 5:40 left to play.
An ensuing Perrson layup slowed the Wildcats' advance for the Eagles to outlast Kentucky. The Wildcats outscored the Eagles 17-4 in the fourth.
FGCU did not receive any help off the bench. The FGCU starting five scored all 59 points Sunday. Four Eagles reached double figures in the win. Cairns produced a team-leading 16 points, Maddie Antenucci cashed in 13, Persson added a season-high 12 and Ezeudu produced 10.
FGCU shot a season-low 16.7 percent from downtown, connecting on only five of its 30 3-point attempts. The Eagles managed to score 28 points off of Kentucky's 18 turnovers.
The Eagles return to court during Feast Week for the Gulf Coast Showcase. FGCU is set to open the tournament Friday against Delaware. Tip-off from Hertz Arena is scheduled for 5 p.m.
