FORT MYERS, Fla. – 0-37. That was the series history between Florida Gulf Coast University and Lipscomb University. On this Saturday afternoon from Alico Arena, it was the Bisons who left Southwest Florida with a win, defeating the Eagles 53-44. 

Final Score: Lipscomb 53, Florida Gulf Coast 44
Location: Fort Myers, Florida (Alico Arena)
Records: Lipscomb (7-12, 4-4), Florida Gulf Coast (9-10, 5-3)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bisons leaned on Molly Heard early and often in the first quarter, scoring the first 10 points of the contest, capped by a fast break layup that resulted in a three-point play, at the 5:43 mark.

Heard scored 12 of the team's 15 points in the first stanza as the Bisons took a 15-14 lead after a quarter of play. 

The Eagles took a 20-19 lead with four minutes remaining, but a 7-0 run by the Bisons that saw a second-chance layup by Taylor Bowen and a triple by McKayla Miller gave Lipscomb the 26-20 advantage at the break. 

The Bisons began to pull away early in the third quarter with a 10-point advantage with a Heard driving layup. The lead swelled to 15 on a Miller steal and score with four minutes remaining. 

FGCU, who started the quarter 0-for-6 from the field, did cut a 16-point deficit to eight at the end of the quarter to see Lipscomb lead 41-33 after three quarters. 

After a second chance jumper by Maca Retamales to cut the score to 41-36, but a 9-4 run by Lipscomb made it a nine-point lead, 50-41 with 3:40 left. 

The Eagles went ice cold from the floor with 4-of-12 from the field and committed six turnovers in the final stanza. Despite a jump shot by FGCU with 42 seconds left, Hope Counts drilled the dagger on a layup on the next possession to lead 52-44 en route to a 53-44 historic victory. 

HERD NOTES
In the 38th meeting all-time between the two schools, dating back to FGCU's first season in Division I (2007-08), Lipscomb secured its first win in the series. 

The Eagles were held to their worst shooting performance in conference play with a 30.6% clip (15-of-49).

FGCU committed 21 turnovers, the most in a conference game this season, and the Bisons cashed in for 21 points. 

The 44 points allowed by the Eagles marked the third-lowest in a conference game for Lipscomb Women's Basketball.

KEY STATISTICS
Molly Heard recorded a game-high 23 points on 8-of-17 shooting with six rebounds and four steals. 

McKayla Miller and Olivia Vinson each had nine points to pace the Bisons in the win. 

UP NEXT
After four straight games away from home, the Bisons will return to Allen Arena on Thursday to start a three-game home stand with a rematch against Jacksonville. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m.