FORT MYERS, Fla. – Only one could leave Alico Arena sitting atop the ASUN Conference standings and after a tightly contested matchup that saw 12 ties and 11 lead changes, Florida Gulf Coast (17-6, 6-0 ASUN) came out the victor with a 60-57 decision over Jacksonville University (16-5, 5-1) Saturday afternoon.

Jacksonville trailed by one, 54-53, in the final minute of regulation.

"When you're on the road, you have to make free-throws and layups, and we missed enough to not win the game," said Head Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. "We're going to be resilient. This game is not going to break us. It could've made us, but now we can't focus on anything but our next opponent. We'll rest and be ready to compete against Stetson."

Brandi Buie and Christin Mercer each finished with 15 points while Kayla Gordon tabbed a program-record 20 rebounds.  

From the tip, Gordon was a mastermind on the glass. The six-foot junior had eight of the Dolphins' 12 boards in the first quarter and was instrumental in the team capturing its first lead of the night.

With Buie at the line to complete a three-point play, Gordon pulled down an offensive rebound and tossed it back to Buie for another and-1 attempt. She sank the ensuing free-throw and earned Jacksonville a 14-12 advantage (2:03).

The Dolphins held FGCU without a field goal for the final four minutes of the half, and nearly entered the locker room up by one.

There were three milliseconds on the clock when Jordin Alexander heaved a midcourt attempt. Fouled, she knocked down two of her three shots at the charity stripe to give FGCU a 31-30 lead at the break.

The final stalemate captured Jacksonville and FGCU sitting at 51-all for nearly two minutes. Alexander regained the Eagles' edge with a midrange jumper and the side went on to lead by as much as five down the stretch.

Gordon closed the deficit to one at the 1:19 mark, but JU shot 1-for-4 from the floor to finish the game.

In the decision, the Dolphins' winning spell was snapped at seven. They shot 32.8 percent from the floor (22-for-67) and 54.5 percent at the line (12-for-22).  

Jacksonville welcomes Stetson to Historic Swisher Gymnasium Thursday at 7 p.m. The contest will serve as the midpoint of the teams' ASUN schedule.