FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball team earned a statement ASUN win Thursday night inside Alico Arena, knocking off league-leading Eastern Kentucky, 69-63. FGCU built an early double-digit cushion, weathered a second-quarter surge fueled by Eastern Kentucky's pressure, and relied on timely shot-making and late free throws to stay in control down the stretch. The Eagles combined a fast start with clutch late execution to take down the conference's top team.
FGCU used a fast start and steady late execution to earn a 69-63 win over ASUN-leading Eastern Kentucky at Alico Arena. The Eagles built an early double-digit advantage behind strong three-point shooting and efficient scoring, then regrouped after the Colonels' second-quarter run to carry a narrow halftime lead. FGCU responded to multiple Eastern Kentucky pushes in the second half with timely threes from
Airah Lavy, interior scoring from
Jalei Pillow, and key contributions from
Anna Mortag, setting up a tight fourth quarter. Down the stretch, the Eagles controlled the glass and converted at the free-throw line, with
Sinai Douglas and Mortag helping seal the victory to hand Eastern Kentucky just its second conference loss of the season.
RECORDS: Florida Gulf Coast 13-13, 9-6 ASUN | Eastern Kentucky 22-6, 13-2 ASUN
SCORE: Florida Gulf Coast 69 | Eastern Kentucky 63
LOCATION: Alico Arena | Fort Myers, Fla.
First Quarter: FGCU set the tone with pace and shot-making, racing in front 24-13 after 10 minutes.
Cerina Rolle answered EKU's opening three with a triple of her own, and
Airah Lavy followed with a three to keep the early exchange even. The Eagles found points in multiple ways from there, getting a layup from
Jalei Pillow off an
Anna Mortag assist and a strong finish from Rolle in the paint. Mortag knocked down a three off a kickout from
Eve Alexander, and
Karina Gordon buried a three late in the quarter after FGCU strung together stops and rebounds to control tempo.
Second Quarter: Eastern Kentucky's pressure flipped the momentum in the second, as the Colonels forced turnovers and turned them into points to trim the deficit and briefly pull ahead. FGCU got a lift with a
Maca Retamales finish inside to stop a stretch of empty trips, and then answered again when Pillow ran the floor for a fast-break layup off a
Sinai Douglas feed. With EKU threatening to take control, the Eagles steadied themselves late in the half, and Lavy drilled a deep three in the final minute off a Pillow assist to send FGCU into the break up 31-27.
Third Quarter: The game tightened coming out of halftime, but FGCU responded with timely threes and transition punches to keep the lead.
Nay Staton opened the scoring with a three off an offensive rebound sequence, and Pillow followed with a jumper to push the margin back out. When EKU answered, Lavy delivered two momentum swings in transition, knocking down a pair of fast-break threes off
Jordan Campbell assists to keep FGCU in front. Mortag added a mid-range jumper and later buried a three off a Rolle assist as the teams traded runs, and Pillow converted a fast-break layup plus the free throw late in the quarter to help FGCU carry a 52-49 edge into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter: FGCU leaned on defense, rebounding, and free throws down the stretch to finish the upset. Gordon opened the quarter by knocking down two free throws, and Retamales scored on a pull-up in the lane to keep the Eagles' offense moving as EKU chipped away with perimeter shots. With the Colonels taking a brief lead midway through the period, Douglas answered by attacking the rim, first tying the game with a layup and then helping FGCU regain control at the line. Pillow calmly knocked down two free throws to put FGCU back on top, Douglas finished another layup to extend the cushion, and the Eagles were sharp at the stripe in the final minute as Mortag and Douglas added late free throws. After EKU cut it to five with a last-second three, Rolle sealed it with a free throw in the closing seconds to secure the 69-63 win.
FGCU shot 20-of-43 from the field, went 9-of-17 from three, and added 20 points at the free-throw line while winning the rebounding battle 43-26. Mortag led the Eagles with 14 points, knocking down two threes and going a perfect 6-for-6 at the line. Lavy added 12 points on a flawless 4-for-4 night from three, Pillow finished with 11 points and five rebounds, and Rolle added 10 points, eight rebounds, and three assists as FGCU handed Eastern Kentucky its second ASUN loss of the season.
Head Coach
Raina Harmon -
The Eagles head back on the road for the final time of the regular season, traveling to Jacksonville to face the Dolphins on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. inside Swisher Gymnasium.
To purchase tickets to any home FGCU game, please visit this
link, or call (866) 342-8849.
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