The FGCU women's basketball team (24-4, 15-0 A-SUN) drew four charges and made several big plays over the final three minutes to secure a 68-62 win over Jacksonville (14-15, 7-9 A-SUN) on the road Saturday in Historic Swisher Gymnasium.
"That was a very tough game," FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. "Fortunately, we made some defensive plays down the stretch. Also, Keri had a tremendous game, and we needed it."
The Dolphins used a 16-1 run, including a 12-0 stretch over a four-minute span in the fourth quarter, to trim a 17-point deficit to just two with 3:40 left. Then, they had a chance to tie or take the lead, but junior Nasrin Ulel swiped a pass, which led to a second-chance 3-pointer from redshirt junior Davion Wingate with 2:55 left.
Jacksonville's Jasmyn Brown answered with a three-point play on the other end, but following an empty possession for the Eagles, senior Keri Jewett-Giles drew her third charge of the game and then drove the right side of the lane for a layup to put the Eagles up four with 1:17 left.
Wingate followed by drawing another charge that set up two free throws from Jewett-Giles. That duo then drew two more charges as redshirt sophomore Chandler Ryan iced the game with four free throws.
Jewett-Giles poured in a career-high 28 points on 8-for-12 shooting (5-for-8 from 3-point range). She also made seven-of-eight from the foul line while adding four assists and three steals.
Redshirt senior Destiny Washington added 10 points, nine rebounds and two blocks while finishing just one rebound shy of her sixth double-double in A-SUN play.
Ulel had her 10-game streak of scoring in double figures snapped as the junior guard tallied eight points and six rebounds, but she tied her season-high with four assists and had three steals - including the momentum shifting theft late. Ulel's eight points put her at 870 in her career.
Fellow classmate Tytionia Adderly finished with four points and seven rebounds (two offensive, five defensive) before fouling out. Adderly's seven boards put her at 792 and is eight away from being the second player to reach 800 career rebounds and join Sarah Hansen (887, 2010-14) on the list. On offensive boards, Adderly's two put her at 317 and is 13 away from passing Hansen (329) as the all-time leader in offensive boards while her five defensive boards put her at 475 (3rd all-time). In addition, Adderly's four points put her at 582 and is 18 away from reaching and becoming the 26th Eagle to reach 600 career points.
After honoring its four graduating seniors, Jacksonville opened its senior day by outscoring FGCU 17-10 in the first quarter. Jewett-Giles and Washington made back-to-back 3-pointers in the first two minutes of the second, though, as the Eagles went on a 15-0 run.
Ulel, who was one of eight Eagles to score at least four points in the game, capped the stretch with a shot clock buzzer-beating jumper to give FGCU a 27-19 lead, and they took a four-point margin into the break.
A 10-0 run to open the second half stretched the margin to 14, and the Eagles led by as many as 18 twice in the quarter before taking a 14-point lead into the fourth.
The victory pushes FGCU's winning streak to 15, and they have also won 22 straight A-SUN games dating back to last season. They'll have a chance to secure the program's fifth undefeated conference season on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Stetson in Alico Arena.
With its 12-for-39 performance from 3-point range, FGCU has made 305 from long range this year, giving the program nine consecutive seasons with at least 300.
The Green and Blue are now 25-3 all-time against Jacksonville, including a 10-2 record on the road and wins in six straight overall in the series.
Notes
With a win in Tuesday's regular season finale, FGCU can secure its ninth-straight 25-win season.
The Eagles are now tied with North Carolina A&T for the fourth-longest winning streak in the nation, and they are in sole possession of the ninth-longest overall winning streak in program history.
A-SUN Standings
*1. FGCU - 24-4, 15-0
*2. Stetson - 16-13, 11-4
*3. North Alabama - 19-6, 10-5
*4. Liberty - 13-15, 9-6
*5. North Florida - 13-13, 8-7
*5. Jacksonville - 14-15, 7-9
*7. Kennesaw State - 8-20, 4-11
*8. NJIT - 6-22, 3-12
9. Lipscomb - 3-25, 1-14
*Clinched a spot in the A-SUN tournament
Next Up:
FGCU will close the regular season at home against Stetson on Tuesday at 7 p.m. before hosting either Kennesaw State or NJIT in an A-SUN quarterfinal on Friday at 7 p.m.
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