JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville University women's basketball team greeted Florida Gulf Coast Saturday night, looking to give the Eagles their first Atlantic Sun defeat. JU entered halftime trailing by one before a 50 percent FGCU shooting effort allowed the team to run away in the second half. The Dolphins fell to 6-10 on the year and 1-2 in conference action in the 60-37 defeat.

"In the first 20 minutes, I felt like the girls followed the game plan," said Head Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. "I knew FGCU was going to make a run - they are the No. 1 team in the conference. At halftime, we talked to our girls about getting through that. Basketball is a game of runs and we knew it was coming. All we had to do was stand firm in it and stick to the game plan."

"We turned the ball over more than I would have liked in the second half and I think that is why the game got away from us. All we can do is move forward. It's early in the conference and we're excited that the next two games are at home."

At the midpoint of the opening frame, JU held a slight 9-8 advantage after overcoming an early 8-2 Eagle edge. FGCU used two three-pointers to start the game and were held scoreless for nearly seven minutes while JU went on its run. 

An Eagle three-pointer allowed the team to regain their lead but it didn't stick for too long as Sherranda Reddick and LaDeyah Forte knocked down back-to-back treys to give JU its final edge at 15-11 (9:03).

FGCU held a 24-23 tip at the break before opening the second half with a 10-2 run. While the Fins were able to cut the deficit to four, 37-33, with 10:21 remaining in the game, a sluggish shooting effort wouldn't allow them to break any closer.

Loliya Briggs played the entire 40 minutes for her first full game in a Dolphin uniform. Leading JU with 14 points, three of her five field goals made were three-pointers.

"We've been asking that of Loliya since she came. If we can get that from her every game, then we are going to win a lot of ball games. I'm not surprised. I'm just glad that she knows that that is what she is capable of and hopefully she can be inspired to bring that every game."

Jacksonville returns home on Thursday, Jan. 22 when it hosts Lipscomb at 7 p.m.

Fin Facts

•  JU's defensive pressures held FGCU to its lowest point total of the season
• FGCU posted 14 three-pointers, the most JU has given up this season
• JU went to the free throw a season low three times