JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball team battled throughout Saturday afternoon's road test at Swisher Gymnasium, but Jacksonville used a big second quarter and perimeter shooting to pull away for a 70-61 decision.
FGCU kept the contest within striking distance throughout the afternoon, using rebounding and trips to the free-throw line to offset Jacksonville's perimeter shooting. The Dolphins built separation with a strong second quarter to carry a double-digit lead into halftime, but the Eagles responded in the third behind interior scoring and defensive pressure to cut the deficit to single digits.
Sinai Douglas powered that push with a double-double, controlling the glass and creating offense in transition, and FGCU pulled within one possession early in the fourth after baskets from
Maca Retamales and
Cerina Rolle. Jacksonville answered with timely shots and late free throws to secure the 70-61 result.
RECORDS: Florida Gulf Coast 13-14, 9-7 ASUN | Jacksonville 20-7, 12-4 ASUN
SCORE: Florida Gulf Coast 61 | Jacksonville 70
LOCATION: Swisher Gymnasium | Jacksonville, Fla.
First Quarter: FGCU leaned on its activity and offensive rebounding early to generate extra chances.
Sinai Douglas scored the Eagles' first points on a putback and-one layup after multiple offensive boards, and
Cerina Rolle added a finish at the rim as FGCU worked to control the tempo. The Eagles forced several turnovers with Douglas and Rolle jumping passing lanes for steals, but Jacksonville answered with a pair of three-pointers to edge in front late, taking a 13-12 lead after one.
Second Quarter: The Dolphins created separation in the second with a burst from deep, hitting four three-pointers in the period. FGCU stayed aggressive inside to keep contact, getting a short jumper from
Jordan Campbell and paint finishes from
Nay Staton and
Maca Retamales.
Karina Gordon knocked down a three to halt the run, and
Eve Alexander scored on the offensive glass just before halftime, but Jacksonville's shooting swing pushed the margin to 33-23 at the break.
Third Quarter: FGCU came out of the locker room with renewed energy and attacked the rim to live at the line. Staton sparked the offense with a pair of paint jumpers and earned a three-point play opportunity, while Douglas turned a steal into a fast-break layup to cut into the deficit.
Jalei Pillow added points at the stripe, and the Eagles stayed on the glass with repeated second-chance looks, trimming Jacksonville's lead to 50-41 heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter: The Eagles made another push in the final 10 minutes, opening with baskets from Retamales and Rolle to pull the Eagles within striking distance. Retamales continued to finish around the rim, including a runout layup off a Douglas assist after a steal, and Rolle answered down the stretch with strong takes that kept FGCU within a fighting chance. Jacksonville, however, came up with key plays late, including a three-pointer and trips to the foul line, to close out the 70-61 result.
FGCU shot 19-of-57 from the field and went 21-of-30 at the free-throw line, finishing with 38 rebounds and 34 points in the paint. Douglas led the Eagles with 15 points and 13 rebounds while adding three assists and three steals. Rolle added 12 points, four rebounds, two assists and three steals, while Retamales provided 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including a late three-pointer. Staton chipped in nine points and six rebounds as FGCU finished with 21 bench points on the afternoon.
The Eagles return home to host North Florida on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. inside Alico Arena as the regular season enters its final week.
To purchase tickets to any home FGCU game, please visit this
link, or call (866) 342-8849.
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