Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball produced season-highs in 3-pointers and points scored Saturday to defeat the University of West Georgia 95-62 in Carrollton, Georgia.
"Happy with the way we competed and rebounded," first-year head coach Chelsea Lyles said. "We had a number of players step up and play well today."
FGCU made 15 trifectas in Carrollton, shooting 48.4 percent from 3-point land. At the half, FGCU was staring at nine triples in the box score. The lights-out effort from behind the arc propelled FGCU to a 17-point halftime lead, 47-30. The Eagles' previous 3-point total high was 14 against New College of Florida.
Six Eagles reached double-digit points in the season-high 95 on the scoreboard. Khamari Mitchell-Steen led the way with 14 points to eclipse 1,000 career points. Alahna Paige tallied 12 points with a team-leading four treys. Lauryn Taylor and Emani Jefferson added 11, while both Cerina Rolle and Karina Gordon had 10. Taylor also grabbed 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double effort of the year and her second in the last four games.
FGCU (15-3, 6-0 ASUN) traded baskets in the early going with West Georgia as the Wolves watched their 9-8 lead slip away quickly. West Georgia led for a grand total of three minutes. FGCU would trade points for more points multiple times Saturday, crushing the upset spirit of West Georgia. The Eagles dominated on the boards in doing so, out-rebounding the Wolves 44-19 and 21-8 on the offensive glass.
At the 4:35 mark of the first, Santoro's driving layup was rejected. Rolle grabbed the blocked shot and found Skyler Gill at the top of the key for a knockdown three.
In the second quarter, Jefferson missed the back end of her free throw attempts. Taylor redounded the miss and located a spotting up Paige for another three, making it 38-23 FGCU.
With 1:11 left in the third, almost the same scenario arose with Jefferson missing a free throw, but Rolle corralled the rebound this time. Rolle dribbled to the wing and passed to Santoro, who continued to swing the ball to an open Paige. Paige drained the opportunity to make it 74-40 Eagles.
FGCU soared into the final period up by 37, holding a 77-40 lead; a far cry from its hard-fought 14-point win in the first meeting of the season against UWG.
The Green and Blue put the finishing touches on a 33-point victory, now having won each conference game this season by double-digits. Its eighth straight win to remain undefeated in ASUN play. FGCU improved to 15-1 under Coach Lyles, and Saturday's victory also extended FGCU's conference win streak to 39 against ASUN opponents.
FGCU returns to Fort Myers next week for a four-game homestand, starting with Bellarmine on Jan. 23 for Hometown Heroes Night at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, Jan. 25, FGCU hosts EKU for Azul's birthday at 2 p.m. The first 500 fans in attendance on Saturday will receive an Azul beach towel.
The following week, FGCU hosts Lipscomb for its Laces of Love Shoe Drive. Fans who donate will be entered to win an autographed ball by FGCU baseball alumnus and MLB National League Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale. Saturday, Feb. 1 is Homecoming against Austin Peay.
Tickets start at just $12 for general admission. Eagles fans can create and select their own mini-plan of four- or six-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).
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