Despite trailing in the first quarter, the FGCU women’s basketball team emerged victorious over the Eastern Kentucky Colonels on Tuesday, March 11, in a 63-47 victory to secure its spot in the ASUN championship game.
For the second time in the last four games, the Eagles trailed to open the game. EKU got out to a 20-5 lead, including a 17-0 run, which was fueled by an efficient 4-for-4 (100%) shooting effort from behind the arc. They held FGCU to 1-10 (10%) shooting from three-point range. The Eagles paid the price for their slow start, trailing 20-7 at the end of the first quarter. Forced three-point attempts and slow defense rotations gave the Colonels open looks, which they capitalized on.
The second quarter saw a complete momentum shift in FGCU’s favor. The team went on a quick 8-0 run and turned up the defensive intensity. FGCU’s effective perimeter defense and good rotations held EKU to a three-minute scoring drought during the second quarter and created nine turnovers.
Guard Lauryn Taylor injected a new burst of energy into the team with her effort on the defensive end and her eight points and six rebounds in the first half. The Eagles responded to the Colonels’ 20-7 first quarter with a 20-7 run going into halftime tied at 27 apiece. Despite making five of their 17 three-point attempts in the first half and shooting 9-32 (28%) from the field overall, their ability to create turnovers and hunker down on defense allowed the Eagles to creep back in and tie the game up.
“One possession at a time,” FGCU head coach Chelsea Lyles said. “We got to get a stop and a score…I have a lot of trust and faith in them, so I knew that they would come together and at least battle back and try and make something happen.”
The third quarter saw the Eagles continue their defensive dominance. After a quick basket from EKU, FGCU responded with an 11-0 run over a four-minute period and held the Colonels to 10 points. The Eagles shifted their offensive approach to seek out more layups and fast-break points rather than settling for threes. After a hot start from beyond the arc in the first quarter, EKU shot just 1-for-8 (12.5%) from three-point range in the second half.
“We wanted to limit their shots,” Lyles said. “They’re a great three-point shooting team and they have a really good post inside, so you kind of have to pick your poison.”
Defense and resistance to adversity have been two common themes for this FGCU team over its last six games. Like in the game against Jacksonville University, the team fell behind early but locked down on defense and returned to win.
Before this game against the Colonels, the Eagles had only been letting up 58.6 points per game over their last five games. The last time they played against EKU, they allowed 60 points.
Once again, the team fought back from behind in the first quarter and let their defense lead the way to a victory.
“As you know, we have one of the best defenses in the country,” Lyles said. “When we really lock in and we stick to a game plan, we’re tough to score on…They locked in the last three quarters to make sure that we held them in a good amount to what we like.”
