The Rundown: No. 7 FGCU (30-2 | 15 RPI) v. No. 10 Oklahoma State (20-11 | 46 RPI)
The Matchup: Karl Smesko (Kent State, '93) 13th season at FGCU (344-66/83.9%) v. Jim Littell (Southwestern College, '77) fourth season at OSU (88-42/67.7%)
When: Saturday, Mar. 21  |  11:15 a.m.
Where: The Donald L. Tucker Civic Center  |  Tallahassee, Fla.
Video: via ESPN2 and ESPN3/WatchESPN with Mark.Jones and Sue Bird
Audio: 1240 The Fan with David Moulton
Live Stats: via CBS Gametracker
Hashtags: #WingsUp | #WeAreFGCU | #RainingThrees | #NCAAw | #WhatItsAllFour
Series History: Oklahoma State leads 1-0 with overtime victory in last year's first round
 
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In a highly-anticipated rematch of last year's NCAA first-round tilt, the No. 7 seeded FGCU women's basketball team will face 10th-seeded Oklahoma State University, Saturday Mar. 21 at Florida State's Tucker Center in the First Round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
 
As the fourth game in the 11 a.m. timeslot on ESPN2, tipoff in the 7/10 bout is set for 11:15 a.m.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
The Eagles – who enter the tournament with a national top-25 ranking of 20 and an official RPI of 15 – return to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in just four years of postseason eligibility but are looking for their first NCAA win. The team earned its fifth-consecutive Atlantic Sun regular-season title and went on to win three-straight games in the 2015 A-Sun Championship to earn the league's automatic bid to The Dance. After defeating the Eagles 61-60 in overtime of last year's first round, Oklahoma State went 20-11 this season with a 9-9 Big 12 record. The Cowgirls earned an at large bid to the tournament this season for their third-straight appearance.
 
FOLLOWING LIVE
Saturday morning's tilt will be broadcast live regionally on ESPN2 with Mark.Jones and Sue Bird on the call. Those in Southwest Florida will see coverage of the game beginning just before the 11:15 a.m. tipoff, while those elsewhere in the country will see either a regional matchup or whip around coverage based on the best game action at that point. The game can also be viewed in its entirety and uninterrupted on ESPN3.
 
Fans in Southwest Florida can also catch David Moulton live on 1240/1270 The Fan. The radio feed will also be available online and can be accessed at FGCUAthletics.com.
 
Live stats will be available through CBS by visiting this link and as always, fans can follow @FGCU_WBB on twitter for live updates throughout the game.
 
TWEETABLES
• The team won its fifth-straight #ASunWBB Regular Season title this season with its third perfect season in four years
• #ASunWBB POY Whitney Knight is the nation's only player to lead a conference in both 3-pointers and blocks
• FGCU's @FGCUCoachSmesko earned the #ASunWBB Coach of the Year honor for the sixth time in seven seasons and is a nominee for the WBCA COY Award
• Eight of FGCU's nonconference opponents played in their respective conference championship finals with five earning bids to The Dance
• The Eagles are riding a 25-game win streak, which stands tied for the third best in the nation - behind only UConn and Princeton
• FGCU defeated foes by an average of 25 points per game in the #ASunWBB tournament for its second-straight crown and third overall
 
SMESKO SAYS
"We are really excited to be back in the NCAA Tournament," said head coach Karl Smesko prior to the team's last practice before the game. "We know we've got a great challenge ahead of us playing Oklahoma State again.  They are extremely well coached, are a strong defensive team, very physical on the boards and they are playing their best basketball of the season the last 10 games.  We know we have a good team and we have the opportunity to win; we hope that we can play well enough to advance."
 
THE GREEN & BLUE
With its best resume in program history, the FGCU women's basketball team earned a No. 7 seed in the 2015 NCAA Tournament for the program's best-ever seeding.  The Eagles hold a 30-2 record on a season, an official RPI of 15 and an AP Top-25 ranking of No. 20 and will enter Saturday's matchup with a 25-game win streak.
 
With 28 wins in their last 29 games, the Eagle streak is the third best in the nation, only shorter than Connecticut and Princeton tied with Chattanooga.
 
FGCU sealed the regular season championship with a perfect record of 14-0 in A-Sun action and continued its dominance in the postseason with three wins by an average of 25 points per game. Although the Eagles sealed an automatic bid prior to Sunday's championship in an unlikely situation, the team defeated No. 3 Northern Kentucky 60-43 at Alico Arena for its second-straight tournament crown.
 
FGCU boasted double-figure scorers through the regular season in Whitney Knight (Winston-Salem, N.C./R.J. Reynolds High School), Kaneisha Atwater (Fort Pierce, Fla./Fort Pierce Westover High School) and Stephanie Haas (Avon Lakes, Ohio/Magnificat High School).  Knight and Atwater currently pace the squad, each with more than 14 points per game.  Knight also leads the team with 6.3 rebounds per game and tops the league with 86 made shots from the perimeter and 81 blocks. Knight was named Player of the Year for her season-long performance and currently stands as the nation's only player to lead a conference in both categories.
 
In addition to the team's top-three scorers, ball handlers Jenna Cobb (New Holland, Ohio/Miami Trace High School/Butler) and DyTiesha Dunson (Albany, Ga./Westover High School) contribute to the offense with a combination of 189 assists. With 109 assists and just 45 turnovers on the year, Dunson ranks among the nation's top-20 with an assist to turnover ratio of 2.42.
 
Collectively, the Eagles averaged 73.0 points per game during the regular season, while holding their opposition to 53.2 points per contest for the league's best scoring average and scoring margin. The scoring margin also ranks among the top-10 in the nation. The team has maintained a shooting percentage of .437 with a mark of .355 from the perimeter this year. The Eagles rank third in the NCAA and first among the Atlantic Sun with 9.7 shots made from beyond-the-arc per game. On defense, the Eagles were narrowly outrebounded through most of the season but currently match their opponents, each with 35.2 rebounds per game. FGCU holds an advantage in blocks, 3.6 to 2.5, turnovers, 11.5 to 18.7 and steals, 8.9 to 4.6. FGCU ranks fourth in the country with a turnover margin of +7.25 and 11th nationally in assist to turnover ratio at 1.27.
 
SCOUTING NO. 10
Oklahoma State earned its third-consecutive NCAA Tournament berth on Monday evening after finishing the season with a 20-11 mark, including an even 9-9 total in Big 12 action. The Cowgirls mounted a strong non-conference record, posting an 11-2 mark and winning all eight non-conference bouts at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Heading into its second-consecutive NCAA first-round date with the Eagles, OSU has won seven of its last 10 games, eventually falling to No. 5 Baylor in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament on March 8, 69-52.
 
After narrowly defeating FGCU in overtime last season, 61-60, the Cowgirls return five contributors from their 2013-14 squad, including three starters. Oklahoma State's most crucial departure from last season was guard Tiffany Bias, who led the club with 13.9 points per game and was the main ball distributor, doling out 211 assists on the year. OSU graduated 18 of its 61 points per game last season, with FGCU losing only seven of its 60 points.
 
Three of Oklahoma State's top four scorers, including junior guard Brittney Martin (41.2 percent), senior forward Liz Donahue (43.7 percent) and senior center LaShawn Jones (50.0 percent), all shoot over 40 percent to contribute to the team's mark of 42.0 percent. Unlike the Eagles, the Cowgirls' main focus of scoring is in the paint. Sophomore guard Roshunda Johnson is OSU's biggest threat from behind the arc, sinking 44-of-112 attempts but Martin and Jones, two of the team's top four scorers, have not hit a 3-pointer all season long.
 
This year, Martin leads the Cowgirls with 13.7 points per game and was a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection. The 6-foot guard led Oklahoma State in scoring on nine occasions in 2014-15, including a season-best 27 points against Texas Southern on Nov. 16. Martin is also OSU's leading rebounder, gathering 8.7 boards per game and a total of 262 through 30 games.
 
The next closest rebounder on the team is Jones, who has grabbed 199 boards at a rate of 6.4 per game. In addition to leading those statistical categories, Martin is in the top-30, nationally, in steals. She is averaging 2.7 swipes per game, which stands as the 28th-best mark in the country. In last year's NCAA Tournament, she recorded 20 rebounds which was three shy of matching the single-game tournament record.
 
Donahue, an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, is the team's second second-leading scorer with 11.6 points per game and is the only member on the squad to have started all 31 games. Donahue is OSU's other outside threat, having sank 32-of-99 (32.3 percent) attempts from long range.
 
Johnson and Jones are third and fourth in scoring, respectively. Johnson is scoring at a clip of 11.4 points per game while Jones is averaging 10.6 points per game. Johnson is this season's primary ball handler, posting 118 assist this season. She is also second on the team in steals with 75, just six shy of Martin's mark. Alongside those four, junior guard Roddricka Patton earned just her ninth start of the season against Baylor. Although not a scoring threat, she is second on the team with 88 assists.
 
As a team, Oklahoma State is scoring at a rate of 64.3 points per game, with a +8.3 scoring margin over its opponent. The Cowgirls are also outrebounding the opposition by a 6.1 margin which stands as the 35th-best mark in the NCAA. OSU's turnover ratio is set at +1.7 as the Cowgirls are averaging 3.9 3-pointers per contests. Defensively, Oklahoma State sports the 27th-stingiest squad in the country, surrendering only 56.0 points per game.
 
Head coach Jim Littell holds an overall record of 88-42 in his fourth season at the helm of the Oklahoma State women's basketball program. After serving as Associate Head Coach for six seasons, Littell took the reins of the program for the 2011-12 season. Since that time, Littell has earned as seat at the NCAA Tournament three out of four years. Saturday's contest marks his third-consecutive trip to the big dance with the Cowgirls.
 
LAST YEAR'S MATCHUP
The 12th-seeded FGCU women's basketball team scored just five points over the final 11:38, including overtime, to drop a heartbreaking 61-60 decision to 5th seeded Oklahoma State in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament Mar. 22, 2014 at Purdue's Mackey Arena.
 
The Eagles' season ended with a record of 26-8, while the Cowgirls advanced with a record of 24-8.
 
Knight finished with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, while adding three assists, three steals and three blocks, while Cobb nearly recorded her first career double-double with 16 points and a season-best nine rebounds. Haas added 15 points and six rebounds, and playing in her final collegiate game, Sarah Hansen posted seven points and nine rebounds.
 
A 14-4 run midway through the first half created a 10-point lead for FGCU, and the Eagles held a six-point edge, 55-49, following a Knight 3-pointer at the 6:38 mark. FGCU failed to score another point until Atwater produced a driving layup with 35 seconds left to tie the game at 57-57 and forced the Eagles' second-straight overtime contest.
 
Both teams struggled from the field in overtime, with FGCU's lone bucket coming from a Cobb baseline 3-pointer to put it up one, 60-59, with 3:14 left. Neither team would score again until Oklahoma State converted an FGCU turnover into a layup at the other end with 40 seconds remaining to provide the winning margin. The Eagles had a chance to potentially win the game, but Cobb's 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining from the same spot she had connected from earlier in overtime, just missed.
 
SMESKO'S PREPARATION
Smesko's game preparation is one of the most crucial factors in the Eagles' all-time success. Last season, the team went 14-2 in games when they had four or more days to prepare. This season, the team is 17-0 when coach is given that much time to plan. In 12+ seasons, Smesko holds a record of 125-20 in games with extra time for a win percentage of 86 percent.
 
ALL-CONFERENCE ACCOLADES
In addition to the first-place standing, FGCU's preseason predictions proved to be true individually as well as Preseason Player of the Year Whitney Knight earned the year-end accolade this week. Knight was named First-Team All Conference and the Player of the Year, while Atwater also earned First-Team distinction.  After her first full season on the court, Taylor Gradinjan picked up All-Freshman Team honors with Smesko taking home his fifth-straight Coach of the Year nod. Following a successful run in the A-Sun Tournament, Knight, Atwater and Cobb all earned spots on the All-Tournament Team with Knight earning MVP honors. Knight led all players with 39 points through three games, while Cobb and Atwater each chipped in 36.
 
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Eagles last appeared in the NCAA Tournament three seasons ago when the team earned the A-Sun's automatic bid in its first season with postseason eligibility after transitioning from DII. As the no. 12 seed in 2012, the Eagles faced no. 5 St. Bonaventure at the Tucker Center.

The Eagles challenged the favored team and produced an 11-point lead late in the second half but saw as it slipped away in the final minutes of regulation. St. Bonaventure tied the game and forced the contest down to the wire. With 1.1 seconds on the clock, FGCU forced a Bona turnover and reclaimed possession of the ball for the final play but were unable to get the shot off in time. The Eagles ultimately fell to the Bonnies 72-65 in overtime.
 
A season ago, the Eagles again earned the No. 12 seed and faced No. 5 Oklahoma State in West Lafayette, Ind. but again fell in overtime.
 
With a familiar venue and a familiar foe, the Eagles are looking to make the third time a charm.
 
UP NEXT
With a win over Oklahoma State, the Eagles would move on to the NCAA Tournament Second Round. The winner of Saturday morning's game will face the winner of the no. 2 Florida State/no. 15 Alabama State matchup, which is slated for 1:30 p.m. at the Tucker Center.  FSU enters the NCAA Tournament with a record of 29-4 on the season and an RPI among the nation's top-15. Alabama State is 17-14 on the season and earned the SWAC's automatic bid to the tournament with a win over Southern in the conference championship. Monday's second round game is set for 6 p.m. at the Tucker Center.
 
For up-to-the minute information on the FGCU women's basketball team, stay tuned to FGCUAthletics.com and follow the official Twitter of FGCU women's basketball at @FGCU_WBB.
 
Head coach Karl Smesko earned his fifth-consecutive Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year award after a successful 2014-15 campaign. Under his direction, the team completed the season with a record of 29-2, including a 14-0 mark in conference action and earned its first-ever national ranking. With 29 wins already in the 2014-15 season, Smesko has guided the Eagles to 11-straight 20+ win seasons.  He maintains a record of 343-66 at FGCU for a win percentage of 83.8 with a mark of 130-13 (91 W%) in Atlantic Sun contests and has led the team to a 67-1 record in conference play in the last four seasons.  The five-time Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year ranks among an elite list of just four active Division I coaches with a career win percentage of .800 or higher.  Smesko joins Connecticut's Geno Auriemma, Baylor's Kim Mulkey and Stanford's Tara VanDerveer in the esteemed group.
 
SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visitwww.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.