FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball is heading to the Atlantic Sun Conference championship game by earning a gritty, come-from-behind 63-47 win Tuesday night over fourth-seeded EKU at Alico Arena.
FGCU will be making its 14th straight appearance in the championship game and is seeking its ninth straight title, the first under head coach Chelsea Lyles. The Eagles will face second-seeded Central Arkansas on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Alico Arena for the right to punch their ticket back to the Big Dance.
EKU kept the same game plan from the 3-point scare in Richmond. The Colonels focused on limiting Dolly Cairns' 3-point shooting, force Emani Jefferson to hit threes and frustrate Lauryn Taylor down low under the basket. With that recipe, FGCU struggled out of the gate and found itself down 15, trailing 20-5 as EKU went on a 17-0 run.
The first four baskets from EKU were triples, going a perfect 4-for-4 in the early going. The Colonels would only make one three the rest of the way as FGCU made adjustments
Skyler Gill finally broke the Colonels' massive run with a turnaround layup, but EKU led FGCU 20-7 after one quarter of play. FGCU shot 3-of-17 from the field in the opening period.
FGCU started the second quarter with a Jefferson three, making it 20-10. Freshman Kealyn Flowers hit a three as the FGCU offense began to find its footing with bench support. Flowers' three capped an 8-0 run to pull the Eagles to win four, 22-18. Once down 15, FGCU battled all the way back to go into the half tied at 27 apiece.
EKU scored the first bucket out of the half, but FGCU embarked on its largest run of the game, a 13-0 spurt to take a 41-29 double-digit lead. FGCU soared into the final period up eight, 45-37.
The Colonels cut the deficit to four, 45-41, just a minute into the final quarter. A 7-0 response by FGCU provided enough cushion to dash the Colonels' upset hopes. With 2:12 remaining, Taylor hit a dagger of a three to extend the lead to 14, up 58-44.
For the second straight game against EKU, the Colonels held the Eagles' leading 3-point scorer, Cairns, shotless and scoreless. Jefferson, the ASUN player of the Year, stepped up to the challenge and countered with 22 points, and Taylor recorded her 10th double-double performance of the year with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
