Fort Myers, Fla. - Host Florida Gulf Coast (15-4, 10-1 Atlantic Sun) outscored the Stetson women's basketball team (4-16, 4-7 A-Sun) 40-22 in the second half en route to a 68-44 victory Wednesday night at Alico Arena. Junior forward Jessica Conner (Cocoa, Fla.) scored 18 points with six rebounds, an assist and a block for the Hatters.
The Hatters got out to an early 5-2 lead, but when Eglah Griffin's three-pointer went through the net with 10:50 left in the first half, it gave the Eagles a 13-10 lead it would not relinquish. Stetson would only once more find itself within three points, after an Ashli Jackson (Opelika, Ala.) three-pointer with four minutes left in the half. The two teams headed into the locker room with FGCU ahead 28-22.
FGCU began the second half on a 17-7 run to push its lead into double digits for good; Stetson cut the deficit to 47-37 on a Conner basket with 11:11 left, but the Hatters would only score seven points the rest of the game as the Atlantic Sun-leading Eagles raced away for their 18th consecutive home victory.
Senior forward Ashli Jackson (Opelika, Ala.) scored eight points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds for Stetson. Junior guard Tierra Brown (Orlando, Fla.) and freshman guard Simone Taylor (Delray Beach, Fla.) shared top assist honors with three each.
Reigning A-Sun Player of the Week Shannon Murphy starred again for FGCU as the junior point guard tallied 14 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Chelsea Lyles (13 points, six rebounds, two blocks) and Adrianne McNally (11 points, six assists) also scored in double figures.
The Hatters are back in action Saturday, January 30 at longtime A-Sun rival Mercer. Tip-off from the University Center in Macon, Ga. is set for 1 p.m.; the contest can be viewed on A-Sun.TV.
