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Gulf Coast threes sink Lady Bucs

By Wes Holtsclaw

JOHNSON CITY — A three here. A three there. The Lady Bucs never had a prayer.
With an NCAA women’s record 22 three-pointers, defending league champion Florida Gulf Coast struck fast and rolled over East Tennessee State 97-60 at MSHA Athletic Center.
“We shot the ball really well today,” said FGCU coach Karl Smesko. “We haven’t been shooting the ball really well but a lot of people were hot on the same day, so it really worked to our advantage.”
At 51.2 percent beyond the arch (22-of-43) — a mark which topped New Mexico State’s 21 against Louisiana-Lafayette in 2001 — and 55.9 percent overall (33-of-59), the Lady Eagles (12-5, 5-0) struck in the first 10 minutes and built a 51-25 lead at the half behind a strong performance off the bench from Betsy Adams and ten team three’s in 19 first half makes to just eight field goals overall by ETSU.