Early risers are rising at Florida Gulf Coast

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Several days a week, the alarm clocks start going off for the Florida Gulf Coast women's basketball team around 4:30 a.m. With a half-hour or so, the training room is a bustling place.

And by 6 a.m., practice has started.

For most college students, waking up long before sunrise is not exactly a sounds-good scenario. But for Florida Gulf Coast, the only way to work practice around class schedules was to have the early morning sessions.

It seems to be working. The Eagles have already wrapped up the Atlantic Sun regular-season championship, have 23 wins so far and look to be on their way back to the NCAA tournament for the second straight year.

Says guard Sarah Hansen, "It's nice to get stuff accomplished while the world is still asleep."