FORT MYERS, Fla. – Top-seeded Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball squares off against No. 4 seed EKU on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament semifinal round at Alico Arena.
FGCU sent 10th-seeded Austin Peay packing last Saturday in the quarterfinals with a 34-point win. EKU (21-11, 10-8 ASUN) advanced past fifth-seeded Stetson, 77-60, for another date and try at the Eagles.
FGCU defeated 17 of 18 conference opponents this season by double digits, backed by the nation's ninth best scoring defense under first-year head coach and ASUN Coach of the Year Chelsea Lyles. The lone single-digit ASUN win came against EKU on the road. The Eagles survived a three-point scare in Richmond, Kentucky, winning 68-65. EKU sent up a desperation three at the horn, but it fell short.
ASUN Player of the Year Emani Jefferson and ASUN Third Team honoree Lauryn Taylor turned in double-double efforts to sneak past the Colonels. Taylor scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Jefferson added 11 points and collected 11 boards.
EKU had three members to earn ASUN postseason honors, Alice Recanati (2nd Team), Kaitlyn Costner (3rd Team) and Liz Freihofer (All-Freshman Team) made the lists.
FGCU is 37-2 all-time in the ASUN Tournament, and the Eagles are seeking their ninth straight ASUN Tournament title. FGCU enters Tuesday's matchup on a 21-game win streak, having not yet to lose in 2025. FGCU has also won 52 straight against ASUN opponents, a streak that goes back as far as Jan. 21, 2023, and extends across the regular season and conference tournament runs.
The Green & Blue's 8.7 3-pointers per game ranks No. 20 in the nation. The Eagles have hit 271 treys this season and have made 300 or more for 15 straight years. Only FGCU (28-3) and UConn have won 25 or more games for 15 consecutive seasons.
