FGCU falls to UF 74-69
Junior Courtney Chihil scored a game-high 19 points to lead three FGCU players in double figures, but the Eagles’ women’s basketball team dropped a highly competitive game to SEC foe Florida 74-69 Monday night in the second round of the WNIT.
An Alico Arena record crowd of 4,543 saw the Gators improve to 20-14 while the Eagles slipped to 28-4 and had their 42-game home winning streak snapped. The Eagles are now 3-4 all-time in the WNIT, including 3-1 at home, and have made it to the second round of the postseason tournament two out of the last three years.
The Eagles, who led the nation in three-point field goals per game (10.9), knocked down 11 threes Monday. FGCU ends its four-year Division I transition period with four automatic bids to the WNIT, two Atlantic Sun regular season crowns and an overall record of 100-25.
Redshirt-freshman Sarah Hansen added 11 points, three assists and a pair of rebounds. Junior Eglah Griffin chipped in with 10 points and three boards, while junior Kelsey Jacobson and senior Shannon Murphy each finished with nine points. Jacobson also added four assists and four rebounds in 36 minutes of action.
Jaterra Bonds led the Gators with 19 points off the bench, while Deana Allen contributed 17 points.
The Gators play at Charlotte Thursday in the third round.