FGCU Basketball: Women coast to 91-32 win

The only English that came from the Janes' sideline all night was a brief chant early in the first half, the reserves clapping and screaming "De-fense!" at their teammates.

This is ironic because, although the team from Puerto Rico seemed to like yelling it, they didn't exactly play any.

Or offense, for that matter.

The FGCU women's basketball team held Puerto Rico-Mayaguez scoreless for a 13-minute stretch in the first half en route to their first win of the season, a 91-32 pounding at Alico Arena.

FGCU junior forward Noreen McCallum scored 14 points in the first half -- equaling the Mayaguez total through the first 20 minutes -- and finished with 23 points and eight rebounds.

Megan Jones added 12 points and five assists for the Eagles (1-2), who will next face Puerto Rico- Rio Piedras at 6 p.m. Friday at home.

"We've got a lot of new players and we're just not together as a team, yet," said Jones, who added that she had no trouble with the sore ankle that's limited her in practice this week. "We did better than we did in the first two games, but we've got a ways to go before we are where Coach wants us to be."

FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said that in spite of a 59-point victory over a clearly overmatched opponent, his team was still a bit too sloppy with the ball, committing 10 turnovers on the night.

"We went into this game with two thoughts," Smesko said. "We wanted to have fewer than 10 turnovers and we wanted to limit their uncontested shots. We were a little sloppy with the ball and we still have plenty to work on.

Our defensive communication is not where it needs to be, and offensively, we need to use screens better and to catch-and-shoot more."

Still, Smesko is optimistic with the strong showings from both McCallum and Brandi McGinest (four points, five rebounds), who have been forced to play more on the perimeter due to injuries.

The Eagles got several impressive performances from their bench, notably Andrea Clarke, who provided an inside spark with 11 of her 13 points in the first half, and Megan Francis (12 points, seven rebounds).

Guard Candy Myers, who added 10 points and a pair of assists off the bench, said that the team was not discouraged by their 0-2 start and that, with time and practice, the Eagles will only continue to improve.

"Our transition defense was a lot better than it's been," she said.

"The last two teams were really good teams, and it's just going to take us some time."

Smesko praised his opponents, who have played five games in the past five days, for not giving up in spite of an offensive performance that was downright ugly at times. The Janes shot a woeful 17 percent for the game (10-for-60), and were led by Meredith Mass' 14 points on 4-for-24 shooting.

"They were at a huge disadvantage with how much they have to play and travel," said Smesko.

"The best teams in the country couldn't play with their schedule.

Their kids fought hard and they stuck in it."

FGCU 91, PUERTO RICO-MAYAGUEZ 32

FLORIDA GULF COAST (91)

Lee 2-2 0-0 4, Swain 1-5 1-3 3, Jones 4-8 2-2 12, McCallum 8-12 7-7 23, Duverglas 2-4 2-2 7, Myers 3-9 2-2 10, Bratt 1-7 1-3 3, Francis 6-7 0-0 12, McGinest 1-3 2-2 4, Clarke 5-6 3-4 13. Totals 33-63 20-26 91. PUERTO RICO-MAYAGUEZ (32)

Mass 4-24 6-9 14, Harnaiz 0-0 0-0 0, P. Perez 1-4 0-3 2, Martinez 2-9 2-5 6, Aguirre 1-16 0-0 3, Gonzalez 1-1 0-0 2, M. Perez 1-5 0-0 2, De Leon 0-0 0-0 0, Cruz 0-1 3-4 3. Totals 10-60 11-21 32.

Halftime -- FGCU 37, PUERTO RICO-MAYAGUEZ 14. 3-point goals -- FGCU 5-19 (Jones 2-6, Duverglas 1-3, Myers 2-5, Bratt 0-5) PUERTO RICO- MAYAGUEZ 1-8 (Mass 0-1, Martinez 0-1, Aguirre 1-4, M. Perez 0-2). Fouled out -- Clarke (FGCU); P. Perez, De Leon (PRM). Rebounds -- FGCU 62 (Swain 10), PRM 29 (P. Perez, Cruz 5). Assists -- FGCU 23 (Bratt 6) PRM 3 (Mass 3). Total Fouls -- FGCU 21, Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 23.