BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball took fifth-seeded/No. 18 Oklahoma down to the final shot Saturday, ultimately falling 73-70 in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament at Assembly Hall.
"Obviously a tough game," head coach Karl Smesko said. "Painful right row, but I'm really proud of our team. They gave great effort. This is the Big 12 Champion, and we took them to the very last shot and the last bounce of the ball. I couldn't be any more proud of them if they won. They did everything that they could and tried to represent FGCU and our conference well. I'm just really proud of them."
FGCU sent Oklahoma to the line up two, 72-70, with just 15 seconds remaining. The Sooners would miss the front end of its two free attempts to keep the back-and-forth affair a one-possession opportunity for Smesko and company. Oklahoma made its second attempt, pushing its lead out to 73-70.
Smesko called a time out to draw up potential magic. The Eagles would end up with not one but three chances to send the game to overtime. Smesko's first play set up Dolly Cairns, and her contested 3-pointer fell short into a jump ball. The possession stayed with the Eagles with just one second left.
Smesko called another timeout. The second play was deflected and fell out of bounds, staying with the Eagles but draining the clock down to just .4 seconds. On the final attempt, Uju Ezeudu caught a baseline inbound pass and let a deep three fly. The game-tying triple did not bounce FGCU's way.
The winningest 12th seed in the NCAA Tournament history lived up to its reputation Saturday. FGCU did not shy away from the opportunity on the national stage. The Eagles punched the Sooners in the mouth early, made their statement and put Oklahoma on an upset alert all around the country by soaring out to a 16-3 lead in the opening period.
After one in Bloomington, the Eagles led Oklahoma 25-15. FGCU held on to its lead heading into the half, up two 35-33. Oklahoma did not grab its first lead of the game until the the 2:09 mark of the third quarter, 49-48.
FGCU battled back to reclaim what the Sooners took. A Brylee Bartram three put the Eagles ahead 59-55 with 8:15 remaining in the final period. Bartram ended with 14 points, draining a team-leading four 3-pointers. FGCU made 11 threes Saturday and held Oklahoma to just six makes from distance.
The back-and-forth fourth quarter continued. The Eagles stared down a 66-61 deficit with under four to play. Cairns made it a one-possession game, 64-67, and Emani Jefferson's and-one tied the game 70-70 at 1:11, setting up the dramatic moments of March Madness. Jefferson produced a team-leading 22 points in a double-double performance.
FGCU's historic season comes to a close at 29-5. Only FGCU and UConn have won 25 or more games for 14 consecutive seasons.
Its seventh consecutive run to the Big Dance consisted of its seventh straight Atlantic Sun Conference regular season and tournament title, a 22-game win streak, a perfect ASUN record, two Power Five wins and one Top 25 victory.
Coach Smesko notched win No. 600 at FGCU throughout the year, and Jefferson claimed the ASUN's Player, Defensive and Newcomer of the Year distinction.
