Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball routed Brown 80-58 in the season opener Monday in Providence, Rhode Island.

"Great way to start the season," head coach Karl Smesko said. "We did a great job rebounding the ball. Casey gave us very good guard play, and Uju was outstanding."

The Eagles have now started the season 1-0 for the fifth straight year and remained undefeated in the two all-time meetings with Brown. Despite losing four of its top leading scorers from a season ago, FGCU (1-0) overcame a slow start to knock down 16 3-pointers. The Green & Blue lit up the 3-point line by firing 42 shots from deep.

FGCU turned the ball over on the first three possessions of the night, but the Eagles would end the first quarter on a 13–4 run to soar out to a 22-11 advantage. Brown led for the first 2:39 minutes of the game, 5-4, before FGCU grabbed the lead and never looked back.

The Eagles continued their march to its season-opening victory by taking a 14-point lead into half, 44-30. FGCU produced more of the same in the third, taking a 21-point lead into the fourth.

The Green & Blue produced its largest lead of the night (26) at the 8:28 mark of the fourth quarter, 67-41 as Ajulu Thatha drained another Eagles three. FGCU also out rebounded Brown 44-31 and snagged 14 offensive rebounds.

Three Eagles reached double figures Monday. Uju Ezeudu rattled off a double-double, dropping a team-leading 24 points and 13 rebounds. Ezeudu connected on 4-of-8 from behind-the-arc.

Casey Santoro became the second Eagle to reach double figures Monday, dropping 15 points. Santoro shot a team-leading 71.4 percent, making 5-of-7 from the field. Maddie Antenucci added 14 points, sinking four threes.

FGCU shifts its focus toward the West Coast on Friday to take on No. 21 USC at 10 p.m. EST.