Mercer University
Fla. Gulf Coast
Women's Basketball Falters at FGCU
1/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Mercer women's basketball dropped a 92-55 decision to Florida Gulf Coast at Alico Arena on Thursday night. Freshman Precious Bridges and junior Alex Phillips each scored 12 points in the loss.
FGCU remained unbeaten in A-Sun play and improved to 18-2 (10-0 A-Sun) while Mercer fell to 3-18 (1-9 A-Sun).
Phillips didn't take a single shot in the opening half, but came alive in the second period to score all 12 of her points on five-of-seven shooting from the floor. She also had six of her seven rebounds in the last 20 minutes.
Bridges broke into double figures for the third time in her last four games, this time adding three assists to her 12 points.
The Eagles raced out to an 8-0 lead in the first 1:21 of play and never looked back, pushing their lead to 16-2 before the first media timeout. Mercer would not come within 10 for the remainder of the game.
FGCU used 19-of-40 (47.5%) shooting in the first half to take a 48-19 lead into the break. Just over six minutes into the second half, the Eagles had taken their biggest lead of the night at 65-26.
From then on, Mercer outscored the hosts 29-27 down the stretch.
Freshman Alesha Smith was having her best collegiate game with a season-best six points and three rebounds before leaving the game with an injury in the second half. Freshman Teanna Robinson also had a solid outing, booking four points, five rebounds, an assist and a block in 17 minutes.
Mercer returns to action at Stetson on Saturday. Game time in DeLand, Fla. is scheduled for 1 p.m.
