Sunday, December 20, 2009

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Four Eagles scored in double-figures and FGCU’s strong first half defense led the Blue and Green to a 71-56 victory over the visiting Spartans of USC Upstate in front of 962 fans at Alico Arena.

The Eagles (5-3, 2-0 A-Sun) shot 52-percent from the field (13-for-25) in the first half to open up a 38-22 advantage at the break.

FGCU’s defense stifled Upstate (5-5, 0-2 A-Sun) throughout the first half, holding Upstate to 22 points on 22-percent shooting (6-for-27) while forcing 13 Spartan turnovers.

The two teams played a very evenly matched second half, with Upstate outscoring FGCU, 34-33.

The Eagles opened the game on an 11-0 run, holding the Spartans scoreless until Chelsea McMillan hit a pair of free throws 3:38 into the game (11-2). USC Upstate’s first field goal would not come until over a minute later, when McMillan hit a three-pointer with 15:21 remaining in the half, cutting the FGCU lead to 13-5.

The Eagles cooled off in the second half, shooting 38.5-percent (10-for-26) from the field, while Upstate’s shooting improved to 48-percent (13-for-27).

The Spartans would cut the FGCU lead to eight points (47-39) on a Tee’ara Copney jumper with 11:25 to play. That was as close as Upstate would get, as the Eagles secured their second A-Sun victory on the season, defeating the Spartans 71-56.