FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball doubled up North Alabama for an 84-42 homecoming win Saturday at Alico Arena in Atlantic Sun Conference action.
"I was really proud of how our team played," head coach Karl Smesko said. "North Alabama is a tough team to guard. They've got a lot of movement and a lot of screening. I though we followed the game plan defensively. That was definitely the high point, how we defended today. We still haven't clinched the No. 1 seed yet and still have some work to do."
FGCU has held nine opponents to under 50 points this season. Offensively, FGCU made it rain from deep often, draining 14 3-pointers. The Eagles fired 44 3-point attempts Saturday. Brylee Bartram produced a team-leading five-made threes, finishing with 15 points. The Green and Blue has produced 10 or more made threes in 11 games this season.
FGCU extended all of its streaks Saturday. The Eagles have won 13 straight and 26 consecutive at home. It's been 426 days since the Eagles last lost at home. The Eagles have yet to lose in 2024 and are still perfect in the Atlantic Sun Conference, surging to 11-0 in league play.
Entering the day, FGCU was just one of 10 teams in the nation to have emerged undefeated in their respective conference thus far. The Green and Blue has also won 33 straight against current ASUN members, extending the nation's longest active conference win streak.
Smesko's squad used a late-first quarter scoring spree to grab a 16-9 lead after one. The Eagles then orchestrated a 12-0 run over three minutes in the second to climb out to a 41-20 lead at the break.
In the third, FGCU suffocated the Lions with a 16-2 run, further dominating 57-24. The Green and Blue did not let up in the fourth, extending its insurmountable cushion for a 42-point win. FGCU never trailed Saturday.
Three Eagles reached double figures as Emani Jefferson led all FGCU scorers with 20 points. The three-time reigning ASUN Player of the Week has produced 20 or more points in five of her last eight games. Ajulu Thatha tied her season-high with 16 points. Shekinah Guthrie finished two points shy of a double-double effort, corralling a game-high 13 boards.
FGCU will embark on its final road trip of the season next week, first with a road battle Thursday at Kennesaw State. The Eagles then travel to Queens on Saturday before returning home for its final three games of the regular season.
The ASUN Tournament commences March 8, and the Eagles became the first team in the league to clinch a spot in the tournament field with Thursday's win against Central Arkansas.
