By: by Jason Hanes
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Sametria Gideon scored a game-high 14 points and Kennesaw State's defense held Florida Gulf Coast to a season-low 57 points, but it wasn't enough as KSU fell to FGCU, 57-45, in Atlantic Sun Conference women's basketball action Saturday night.
The Lady Owls (3-11, 0-6) had 13 steals on the night and forced 21 FGCU turnovers, but KSU couldn't overcome a 16-point halftime deficit. FGCU's Kelsey Jacobson scored all 12 of her points in the first half to help stake the homestanding Eagles to the lead at the break.
Gideon scored 11 of her 14 points in the second half as the Lady Owls held FGCU (13-0, 6-0) to only seven points over the final 12 minutes of the contest. KSU dominated in the paint in the second half by a 14-6 margin, but after FGCU extended its lead to 25 points in the second half, KSU could only trim the lead to the final margin of 12.
Angie Smith also scored in double-figures for the Lady Owls, getting five points in each half for 10 total. The junior also recorded a season-high seven steals on the evening.
Eglah Griffin had a double-double for the Eagles, who entered the contest ranked No. 3 in CollegeInsider.com's Mid-Major Women's Basketball Top 25 poll. Griffin scored 13 points and grabbled 10 rebounds for FGCU.
The Lady Owls will return to action Monday evening against Stetson in an A-Sun contest. Tip-off in DeLand, Fla., is set for 7 p.m.
