FORT MYERS, Fla. – In the third consecutive year of EKU traveling to Florida Gulf Coast for a regular season meeting, despite being in the same conference, the Eagles overpower the Colonels by a score of 82-69 on Saturday night at Alico Arena.
 
EKU falls to 16-7 on the season, dropping its second straight game inside Atlantic Sun Conference play.
 
The Colonels were led by graduate Antwainette Walker, scoring 18 points on a 7-of-15 showing from the field. NeKiyah Thompson and Alice Recanati totaled 11 points while Sierra McCullough neared a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
FGCU (19-4, 9-0 ASUN) shot 12-for-16 (.750), including three made three-pointers, to claim the first quarter by a 29-19 score.  The Eagles' Emani Jefferson, who led all scorers on Saturday with 22 points, score nearly 50 percent (9 points) throughout the first 10 minutes of play.
 
Made baskets from Walker and Thompson opening the second quarter cut the Colonels deficit to just six points with nine minutes to go in the half.  Despite EKU cutting the score to below double digits five times in the final eight minutes of play, FGCU withstood the Colonels pressure and went into the locker room with a 43-34 lead.
 
FGCU continued its offensive attack to open the third quarter knocking down three three-pointers, extending its lead to 14 at the under-five media timeout.  An and-one from Kaitlyn Costner narrowed the gap to just 11 points heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
 
The Eagles obtained their largest lead of the game to 16 with 6:31 remaining in regulation and didn't allow EKU to reach a single-digit deficit, claiming Saturday's game by an 82-69 total.
 
Four Eagles scored in double figures, including two 20-point scorers in Jefferson and Uju Ezeudu.  FGCU went 10-for-32 from beyond the arch while forcing the Colonels into 19 turnovers.  EKU's bench outscored the Eagles by a wide 25-4 gap.
 
EKU returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. facing Queens back home at Baptist Health Arena.  EKU, in partnership with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and Nike, will honor all those affected by cancer in the team's Play4Kay game.  Fans are encouraged to wear pink in conjunction with both EKU and Queens next Thursday night.