Sunday, December 30, 2007

Fort Myers, Fla. – FGCU head coach Dave Balza has been preaching defense and on Saturday night, the Eagles listened in a 60-30 win over Penn. FGCU improves to 4-9 while Penn falls to 4-7.

In the first half, FGCU set three NCAA Division I records by holding the Quakers to six points, 5.9 Pct from the floor and one field goal, all records since the inception of the shot clock in 1986. The Eagles nearly set another record by holding the Quakers scoreless for the first 13:29, taking a 14-0 lead. FGCU forced 16 turnovers and held Penn to 0-for-12 during the stretch. FGCU forced 23 turnovers and held Penn to 1-for-17 from the floor to take a 30-6 lead into the break.

FGCU continued to build on their lead, going up by as many as 40 in the second half. The Eagles led 58-18 at the 4:33 mark. The Eagles would go on to win 60-30 to snap a four game losing streak heading into conference play.

For the game, FGCU forced 34 turnovers and held the Quakers to 8-of-42 from the floor and %19.0 from the floor while picking up 21 steals. Penn, who scored 97 against FGCU last year, now has scored the most points on FGCU and the fewest.