FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) - Abby Hipp scored 13 points and No. 24 Missouri State used a dominant first half to defeat Florida Gulf Coast 74-49 on Friday in the Gulf Coast Showcase.
Abyigayle Jackson added 12 points, Sydney Wilson 11 and Brice Calip 10 for the Lady Bears (1-0), who led 49-18 at the intermission.
Missouri State led by as many as 36 in the first half with all 13 players on the roster getting into the season opener. The Lady Bears shot 58 percent to 18 percent for the Eagles (1-1), who were 1-of-23 from 3-point range, outrebounded 32-14 and only had one assist.
Seven players had at least five rebounds for the Lady Bears, who returned four starters and 10 players who were part of a 26-4 team that set a school record for regular-season wins last year. That earned the Bears their first preseason ranking since 2000.
Tishara Morehouse had 10 points for FGCU, which went 30-3 last season but lost its top seven scorers.