FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball held Montana State scoreless in the fourth quarter for nearly seven minutes Monday but walked away with a tally in the loss column, a 58-49 home defeat at Alico Arena.
"Give credit to Montana State," head coach Chelsea Lyles said. "They are a good team. I thought our effort was there defensively. Just have to do a better job finishing."
Montana State improved to 8-2 in the win, and the Bobcats had emerged No. 26 overall in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll. FGCU (7-3) entered the day ranked No. 5 overall in the same poll.
Monday's loss snapped the nation's second-longest active home win streak. Entering Monday's action, FGCU had won 37 consecutive games at home, a streak that spanned over two years (736 days.) FGCU witnessed its first home loss since Dec. 11, 2022. Monday's defeat also marked the first loss of the Chelsea Lyles era.
FGCU trailed by seven, 47-40, heading into the fourth quarter. Aided by the home crowd, the Green and Blue defense locked in to hold the Bobcats scoreless over a six-minute and 48-second stretch to allow Casey Santoro to hit a triple to tie the contest at 47.
On the very next possession, Montana State answered with a three to reclaim the lead, 50-47 with just 3:10 remaining. FGCU used its 7-0 spurt to breathe life into a potential comeback but surrendered a 7-0 run to fall behind 54-47, a deficit too much to overcome.
FGCU out-rebounded the taller Montana State roster 26-25. The Bobcats have 11 players listed 6-feet or taller, while FGCU has just two. The Bobcat wingspans in the driving lanes and on the perimeter disrupted the FGCU offensive attack as the Eagles turned the ball over 21 times Monday. Montana State scored 24 points off those turnovers.
Six-foot-two junior forward Marah Dystra dominated in the paint for Montana State with a team and game-high 20 points. The Bobcats outscored FGCU 36-26 in total paint points.
FGCU started fast and soared out to a 12-4 lead in the opening period but trailed by two, 18-16, through the first 10 minutes. A Dolly Cairns 3-pointer gave FGCU a brief 21-19 lead, but FGCU would go into the half down 34-28.
Cairns finished 14 points, shooting 4-for-8 from deep. Emani Jefferson provided a team-leading 15 points and seven tough rebounds. Cerina Rolle added 10 points.
FGCU hosts the FGCU Classic beginning Friday as the Eagles welcome IU Indy, North Carolina A&T and East Tennessee State for a MTE event. FGCU opens the event Friday against NC A&T at 4 p.m. The Eagles close the FGCU Classic on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. against East Tennessee State.
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).
