FORT MYERS, Fla. – Playing to their strength, FGCU, the nation's leading team in made three pointers and three-point attempts, hit 13 shots from beyond the arch to defeat EKU 84-61 on Thursday night inside Alico Arena.
 
With the loss, the Colonels fall to 12-9 (5-3 ASUN) and will head to Stetson (8-13, 2-6 ASUN) over the weekend to conclude a road swing in Florida, a team EKU defeated earlier in the season at home.
 
Antwainette Walker led the Colonels with 15 points and nine rebounds for the 14th time this season.
 
Kalissa Lacy followed the performance with 12 points on 4-of-7 (.571) shooting from beyond the arch.
 
Florida Gulf Coast jumped out to a 15-2 run through the first five minutes to begin Saturday's contest. EKU would attempt to match the Eagles, going on its own 12-point swing to bring the visiting team within one-point. A made three by Brylee Bartram sealed the first frame in FGCU's favor at 18-14.
 
FGCU started a five-point run to start the second quarter, halted by a rebound from Danielle Rainey, who advanced the ball the full-length of the court and layed up. The Eagles made the next six baskets of the frame, three of which were from deep. Marissa Mackins, who played limited minutes in Saturday's contest, nailed a three to bring the Colonels within eight. Another three from FGCU ended the first half with the score 45-27.
 
Alice Recanati opened the second half with two free throws, a steal, and a highlight reel layup. Despite the added EKU effort out of the break, the Colonels failed to break FGCU's double-digit lead the remainder of the quarter. 
 
The Eagles hit the first five baskets to begin the fourth quarter, extending the FGCU lead to 79-49. Bridgid Fox scored on back-to-back possessions, bringing the Colonel total to over 50. Two threes from Lacy narrowed the deficit to 20 with two minutes left in the game, however, FGCU kept its lead and won the archery match by double-digits at 84-61.
 
FGCU shot 34-of-70 (.486) from the floor in Saturday's contest, 40 of its 70 attempts were from beyond the arch. The Eagles beat the Colonels 24-6 in assists and forced EKU into 19 turnovers, their second largest total of the season.
 
EKU outrebounded FGCU 35-34 and shot 14-of-16 (.875) from the charity stripe.
 
The Colonels look to wrap up a two-game road trip against Stetson on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 1:00 p.m. in DeLand, Fla at the J. Ollie Edmunds Center.
 
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