FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball opened the FGCU Homewood Suites Classic Friday with a 66-56 win over Cal Baptist at Alico Arena.
"Proud of the girl's effort today," head coach Chelsea Lyles said. "We still have some things to clean up, but it was a gritty win."
Dolly Cairns led the way for the Eagles with a team and season-high 21 points. Cairns finished the day just one point shy of tying her career high. FGCU also extended the nation's second-longest home win streak to 34 games Friday, and first-year coach Lyles remained undefeated in her tenure to improve to 4-0 after taking over for Karl Smesko. Defensively, FGCU (4-2) has held five of its six opponents this year to under 60 points.
The Eagles struggled from deep early, shooting 0-for-8 from 3-point land in the first quarter and started the game 0-for-10. FGCU found other ways to score and put up the first seven points of the contest but found itself trailing heading into the second with Cal Baptist leading 15-14.
FGCU kept firing away from beyond the arc. Maddie Antenucci sank the first Eagles' three of the game nearly three minutes into the second period. An inspired Cairns soon produced back-to-back trifectas to give FGCU a 23-17 lead with 5:56 remaining before halftime. The Green and Blue closed the half on an 11-0 run to earn a 34-20 advantage at the break. FGCU outscored CBU 20-5 in the period.
CBU pulled to within five in the third, 46-39, with a 9-0 run of its own at the 2:59 mark. Lyles called a timeout to regroup the Eagles and halt the largest Lancers' run of the game
FGCU responded with its largest lead of the day as Cairns beat the third-quarter buzzer on another 3-ball to give FGCU a 56-39 lead, sending the Eagles into the final period on a 10-run. Both the Lancers and the Eagles drained seven 3-pointers Friday, four courtesy of Cairns.
The Eagles kept the Lancers at bay in the fourth by maintaining a nine-point or better lead to keep CBU (0-7) winless on the year. Both Emani Jefferson and Cerina Rolle nearly turned in double-double performances Friday. Jefferson had 11 points and nine rebounds, while Rolle added eight points and snagged 10 boards.
FGCU completes the Homewood Suites Classic on Saturday against Chattanooga. The Mocs dropped game one of the classic 74-61 to Penn. Saturday's FansGiving tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. on ESPN+. Eagle fans are encouraged to donate non-perishable food at the drop-off location inside the Alico Arena lobby. Those that donate will go home with a prize.
Tickets start at just $12 for general admission. Eagles fans can create and select their own mini-plan of four-, six-, or nine-game packages starting at $44. For more information on single-game and season tickets, please click
here or call the FGCU Ticket Office at 1-866-FGCU-TIX (866-324-8449).
