FORT MYERS, Fla. – Lauryn Taylor registered a double-double performance Thursday in Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball 80-63 win over Bellarmine at Alico Arena.
"We have a lot of good players starting to come into their own," FGCU head coach Chelsea Lyles said. "We did a really good job in the first half defending, and we play them again in two weeks, so we better clean some things up before we go up there. Taking it one day and one game at a time, and trying to get better every day. Right now, we are focused on Saturday and not looking too far ahead."
Taylor scored the final six points for the Eagles, and finished the night with 15 points and 13 rebounds to lift FGCU (16-3) to its ninth straight win and 40th consecutive victory against Atlantic Sun Conference opponents. FGCU also remained perfect in the all-time series against Bellarmine, 6-0, and perfect in league play at 7-0 with another double-digit victory. Taylor's double-double night marked her fifth of the season and third straight in ASUN play.
"I have molded my game to fit FGCU style of basketball," Taylor said. "Everyone knows I'm a pretty good rebounder, but that's something you can't take away. Just doing the things I know that I'm good at to contribute to a winning team."
Nine different Eagles put their name in the box score Thursday. Eight Eagles scored at least six or more points. Alahna Paige pitched in 12, shooting 4-for-9 from behind the arc. FGCU sank 12 3-pointers in the win, and the Eagles improved to 13-0 this season when recording eight or more triples.
Emani Jefferson and Dolly Cairns produced 11 points each. Jefferson nearly turned in a triple-double effort with seven rebounds and eight assists on her line.
FGCU jumped on the Knights early, widening a first-quarter gap to 14 by going up 16-2. Bellarmine would never lead Thursday. FGCU used an 11-0 run in the opening quarter and with the tone set, the Eagles marched into the second period with a 24-10 advantage. Defensively, FGCU held Bellarmine to just three made field goals in the opening period.
Skyler Gill and Casey Santoro hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions in the second, soon putting the Eagles up 36-14 to force a Bellarmine timeout with 5:01 left before the half. FGCU led by a comfortable 17 points at the midway point, up 44-27.
At the 3:37 mark of the third, Paige drained FGCU's 10th trifecta to propel the Green and Blue to a mounting 58-35 lead. FGCU would lead by as many as 26 points in the third.
The Knights scored the most points that the nation's fifth-best scoring defense has surrendered all season, 63. The previous season-high in points allowed for FGCU was 62, twice against Columbia and West Georgia. Despite giving up season-high in points, FGCU shut down the Knights' leading average scorer to just eight points.
FGCU welcomes Eastern Kentucky to the City of Palms Saturday at 2 p.m. for Azul's birthday. Doors open at 12:30 pm. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive an Azul Beach Towel. Local mascots will be in attendance to help celebrate Azul turning a year older, including an inflatable fun zone in the Aux Gym.
Tickets start at just $10 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).
