FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball clinched a spot in the upcoming Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament Thursday with a 65-43 victory over Central Arkansas at Alico Arena.
"When you force that many turnovers against a good team, that means a lot of people were working hard," head coach Karl Smesko said. "It was a good team defensive effort. I think that was the difference in the game today."
FGCU (20-4, 10-0 ASUN) is the first team in the ASUN this season to clinch a spot in the conference tournament. The Eagles are winners of 13 straight and have won 25 straight at home, the nation's third-longest active home winning streak. FGCU has yet to lose in 2024.
The Green and Blue also extended the nation's longest conference win streak as FGCU has now won 32 consecutive ASUN games against current member institutions. FGCU reached the 20-win plateau Thursday. Coach Smesko has guided the Eagles to 20 straight seasons with 20 or more wins.
The Green and Blue kept its stronghold on the regular season race in the win. Entering the day, Central Arkansas traveled to Fort Myers just one game back from first place at 8-1 in the conference. FGCU has built now built two-game lead for the top spot in the ASUN.
The Eagles caused havoc early with its tenacious defense, grabbing a 15-11 lead at the end of one. FGCU tied its season high with 18 steals. Central Arkansas took the lead, 20-19, at the 4:49 minute mark in the second quarter courtesy of a made free throw, but the Sugar Bears would not lead the rest of the night.
FGCU lived vicariously at the buzzer in the second period. Brylee Bartram and Sofia Persson drained shots as the shot clock buzzer sounded. Emani Jefferson needed only three seconds to inbound the ball at half-court and fly through the lane to beat the clock with a layup, giving the Eagles a nine-point lead (31-22) heading into the half.
The Eagles closed the half of a 12-2 run and came out strong in the third quarter. A Persson trifecta at the 3:34 mark of the third propelled the Eagles to its largest lead of the night, a 12-point spread. FGCU took a 17-point advantage into the third, leading 49-32. FGCU would lead by as many as 27 in the fourth.
Four Eagles reached double figures Thursday. Uju Ezeudu led all Eagles with her fifth double-double performance of the season, 16 points and 13 boards.
FGCU returns to the court Saturday, hosting North Alabama for Homecoming Weekend. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. on ESPN+.
