Tuesday, March 22, 2011

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Junior Courtney Chihil (Tipp City, Ohio/Alter HS) scored a game-high 19 points to lead three FGCU players in double figures, as the FGCU women’s basketball team dropped a highly competitive game to SEC foe Florida, 74-69, in front of a Alico Arena record crowd of 4,543 in the second round of the WNIT on Monday night.

With the win the Gators improve to 20-14 overall, while the Blue and Green fall to 28-4 overall and have their 42-game home winning streak snapped. The Eagles are now 3-4 all-time in the WNIT, including 3-1 at home, and have made it to the second round of the postseason tournament two out of the last three years.

The Blue and Green, who lead the nation in three-point field goals per game (10.9), knocked down 11 triples on the night. FGCU ends their four-year Division I transition period with four automatic bids to the WNIT, two Atlantic Sun regular season crowns and an overall record of 100-25.

Chihil finished with a game-high 19 points on 6-of-11-shooting from the floor and 4-of-7 from long distance. The Tipp City, Ohio native also added three assists and three steals. Redshirt-freshman Sarah Hansen (Edinboro, Pa./General McLane HS) registered 11 points, three assists and a pair of boards. Junior Eglah Griffin (Fort Myers, Fla./Dunbar HS/Seminole CC) chipped in with 10 points and three boards, while junior Kelsey Jacobson (Barnesville, Minn./Moorhead HS) and senior Shannon Murphy (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) each finished with nine points. Jacobson also added four assists and four rebounds in 36 minutes of action.

Jaterra Bonds led the Gators with 19 points off the pine, while Deana Allen contributed 17 points and three assists

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