FT. MYERS, Fla. - Backed by four Hawks in double figures, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team downed Florida Gulf Coast University, 76-64, Sunday evening at Alico Arena. Senior Erin Shields had 17 points and sophomore Sarah Fairbanks posted 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds to help SJU improve to 10-2 overall.

In a back-and-forth opening 13 minutes, Florida Gulf Coast held a 24-23 edge, but the Hawks would soon take control of the final seven minutes. Using a 14-6 run to end the half, Saint Joseph's opened a 37-30 edge on a layup in the paint by Ilze Gotfrida off a feed from Shields with seven seconds to go.

In the second half, the Hawks started quickly, opening a 44-34 lead on layup by Natasha Cloud at 17:34. Saint Joseph's continued to hold the Eagles (6-6) at a distance from there, allowing FGCU to come within eight three times, before pushing its lead to as many as 16, 71-55 on a pair of free throws by Shields.

The Hawks, who shot 47.5 percent from the field (28-of-59) amd hit 16-of-17 from the foul line, took advantage of 16 FGCU turnovers, turning those into 24 points.

Joining Shields and Fairbanks in double figures were Cloud qith 14 points and a game-high nine assists, while senior Kelsey Berger added 10 points and five rebounds.

At the other end, the Eagles got a game-high 28 points from Sarah Hansen on 10-of-14 shooting and 6-of-9 from the foul line, but the rest of FGCU combined to go just 12-of-33 from the field.

Saint Joseph's returns to action January 2 at Richmond as it opens Atlantic 10 play at 7 p.m. at the Robins Center.

Game Notes: All eight Hawks who played tonight scored...Gotfrida added seven points...Ashley Robinson had a season-best six points off the bench...Rookie Lisanne de Jonge added five points and four rebounds...Sophomore Ciara Andrews had four points and three rebounds...Cloud finished with more assists (nine) than FGCU did as a team (five).