Florida Gulf Coast proved why they were the best team in the Atlantic Sun after rallying twice in the second half to down the JU women’s basketball team, 63-55, on Thursday night in the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

Eglah Griffin helped the Eagles (20-4, 15-1) secure their eighth straight win with a game-high 15 points, while Shannon Murphy recorded 14 points and four assists in the victory.

Despite being held to a game-low 35 percent field goal percentage, the Eagles had nine three pointers and 24 points off turnovers.

“We definitely fought hard,” said JU head coach Jill Dunn. “Down the stretch, they made the plays to get the win, while we fell a little short. Overall, we have been showing great improvement and look forward to bouncing back on Saturday.”

The Dolphins (7-16, 6-9) got 12 points from sophomore guard Ashanti Williams, while freshman guard Drameka Griggs had 10 points to finish with double figures in her third straight game.

In the second half, the Dolphins took their largest lead of the game, 37-29, at 16:39 on the second consecutive three-point play by junior guard Gigi Thomas. Over the next five minutes, the Eagles used a 13-2 run, capped by a Murphy three-pointer to take a 42-39 lead. A three-pointer by Williams and two scores from senior Desarae Johnson helped JU take the lead once again at 45-42 before the Dolphins fell to another Eagles run, 12-3, which gave FGCU a 54-48 advantage (5:32).

A jumper by Griggs (4:24) and three-pointer by Williams (0:41) each helped the Dolphins get within four in the final five minutes, but the Eagles held on for the win.

FGCU also got 12 points and four assists from Chelsea Lyles, while Courtney Chihil recorded eight points and nine rebounds before fouling out.

In the first half, the game would go back and forth until Chihil hit a three pointer at 8:39 to give the Eagles an 18-14 lead. The Dolphins followed with an 8-0 ran capped on a layup and free throw by junior forward Taneskei Richardson for a 22-18 advantage (4:25). Lyles helped the Eagles regain the lead, 25-22, on a three pointer with less than three minutes in the half. The Dolphins took back the lead on a Williams’ jumper, while Richardson was successful on a three-point play in the final 10 seconds to give JU a 29-25 advantage into the locker room.

Richardson finished with six points and 10 rebounds, while Johnson had nine points and tied a career best in blocks with five in the loss.

The Dolphins finish the week against Stetson on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. All fans wearing pink will be admitted to the games free as part of the annual Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Pink Zone week for the fight against breast cancer.