Matchup: FGCU (15-3, 1-0 ASUN) vs NJIT (2-14, 0-1 ASUN)
When: Saturday Jan. 13 at 4 p.m.
Rankings: FGCU - #1 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll, #1 in the espnW Mid-Major Poll and receiving votes (4) in the USA Today Coaches Poll
RPI: FGCU (22), NJIT (346) - as of 01/12/18
Where: Fort Myers, Fla. | Alico Arena
Tickets: Still Available | Buy Online
Game Notes: FGCU | NJIT | ASUN
Watch: ESPN3 | David Moulton (PxP) | Pete Lonergan (Color)
Live Stats: here
Series: FGCU leads 6-0
Coaches: Karl Smesko (16th season at FGCU - 419-85; 19th season overall - 480-112) | Steve Lanpher (6th season at NJIT - 53-112; 15th season overall - 206-206)
Promotions: Pink Out | Pink Shirt Sales ($10) | Beat Cancer Night
Twitter: @FGCU_WBB
Facebook: @fgcuwbb
Instagram: @fgcu_wbb
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The FGCU women's basketball team (15-3, 1-0 ASUN) will continue conference play with a 4 p.m. home tilt against NJIT (2-14, 0-1 ASUN) on Saturday. The matchup, which is sponsored by NCH Healthcare System, will be part of a doubleheader with the men's game following at 7 p.m.
There will be pink shirts on sale at the game as part of Beat Cancer Night. Fans are encouraged to wear pink. Proceeds from the shirt sale will benefit the American Cancer Society.
THE GREEN AND BLUE
FGCU enters Saturday as the top-ranked team in both the CollegeInsider.com and espnW mid-major polls. The Eagles are also receiving votes (4) in the latest USA Today Coaches Poll and sit at 22 in the latest NCAA RPI poll. In fact, this matchup represents the largest RPI differential of the season for FGCU as NJIT enters 346th of 349 teams in the nation.
With a win over NJIT, FGCU would stretch its winning streak to six, which would tie the team mark for longest this year. The Eagles, who also won six in a row to open the season, are now 9-0 in Alico Arena this year. Overall, the team has won five straight and nine of its past 10.
Tytionia Adderly, a sophomore forward, earned her first career ASUN player of the week award for her 21-point, 13-rebound performance in last Saturday's win over Stetson. She produced her sixth career double-double and 20th double digit rebounding game while moving up to ninth on the program's career rebounding list with 414. She passed Kate Schrader (409, 2005-07) and is now nine shy of passing Katie Meador (422, 2012-16). Redshirt junior guard Lisa Zderadicka also earned ASUN newcomer of the week recognition for the second time this year. With one more, she would tie Rosemarie Julien and Sarah Hansen (2009-14) for the most in program history.
With Adderly and Zderadicka's awards, FGCU has now won 55 player (35) or newcomer of the week (20) awards in program history. In fact, Zderadicka (Vienna, Austria/HAK Korneuburg) needs just one assist to reach 200 in her career, which started at Houston Baptist. Another player who is close to a career milestone is Taylor Gradinjan, who needs two more steals for 100 in her career.
Nasrin Ulel is now 18 points away from doubling last year's scoring total. The sophomore guard, who has at least one 3-pointer in 14 of 18 games this year, has 181 points this year after totaling 99 as a freshman.
SCOUTING NJIT
NJIT, under the direction of sixth-year head coach Steve Lanpher, has opened the season 2-14 overall. The Highlanders lost last week's ASUN opener to USC Upstate 95-57. In that game, Tatianna Torres and Kelly Guarino each scored 10 points, while 5-3 redshirt sophomore point guard Amarri Trueheart chipped in nine. Despite scoring just 57 points, the team saw scoring production from nine different players.
Torres, a 5-10 junior guard, was a preseason all-conference selection in the ASUN. She set NJIT's Division-I single-season steals record with 67 last year, which was also tops in the ASUN. She has 12 so far this year. Guarino, a 5-7 redshirt junior guard, buried 57 shots from 3-point range last year and 5-11 sophomore forward Danielle Tunstall was a member of the ASUN's All-Freshmen team last year.
The Highlanders are in their third year in the ASUN. They're expected to start 5-11 forward Jillian Libby, Trueheart, Tunstall, Torres and 5-8 guard Ellyn Stoll.
Torres leads the team at 11.3 points per contest, while Stoll (9.7) and Guarino (9.6) check in just behind her. Interestingly, NJIT has given up 274 combined points in the first and second quarters this year, while allowing 303 points in each the third and fourth quarters.
SERIES HISTORY
FGCU holds a 6-0 record all-time against NJIT. In last year's meeting at Alico Arena, though, the Highlanders led 33-27 at halftime before the Eagles cruised to a 20-point win.
ASUN TEAM LEADERS
As a team, FGCU leads the ASUN in scoring offense (77.4), scoring margin (+16.1), field goal percentage (.433), 3-point field goals made (216), 3-point field goal attempts (610), 3-point field goals per game (12.0), total rebounds (656), total assists (281), assists per game (15.6), turnovers per game (12.5), turnover margin (6.4), assist to turnover ratio (1.25) and win-loss percentage (83.3).
ASUN TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS
Julien (Port St. Lucie, Fla./Treasure Coast HS) checks in seventh in the ASUN in scoring at 12.8 PPG. She's also leading the conference in free throw percentage at 83.6 percent (46 of 55), fifth in field goals made (75) and fourth in free throws made (46). Adderly (Jupiter, Fla./Cardinal Newman HS) is first in rebounds per game (8.8), tied for sixth in steals per game (1.7), first in offensive rebounds per game (4.1) and eighth in field goal percentage (46.6, 54 of 116). China Dow (Louisville, Ky./Christian Academy of Louisville) ranks in three categories - tied for 8th in rebounding (5.5/game), 10th in field goal percentage (45.0, 59 of 131) and ninth in 3-point field goal percentage (37.5, 18 of 48). Ulel (Murrietta, Calif./Murrietta HS) ranks seventh in 3-point field goal percentage (38.2, 34 of 89) and is ninth in field goals made (66), while Erica Nelson (Kansas City, Mo./Lee Summit North HS) and Zderadicka rank sixth and 10th in assists at 2.9 and 2.6, respectively. Gradinjan (Cudahy, Wis./Cudahy HS) leads the ASUN in 3-point field goals made (47). In fact, FGCU has four of the top nine in the conference in 3-point field goals made - also including Julien (35, 3rd), Ulel (34, 5th) and Jessica Cattani (Muskego, Wis./Muskego HS) with 25 (9th).
NJIT's Lewis leads the ASUN in field goal percentage (51.7, 61 of 118) and is sixth in offensive rebounds per game (2.6), while Stoll ranks seventh in 3-point field goals made (30). Torres is third in steals per game (2.1), fifth in free throws made (45), ninth in offensive rebounds per game (2.1), ninth in field goals made (66) and tied for eighth in assists per game (2.7). Lucia Martinez-Ortiz is eighth in blocks per game (0.7).
NCAA LEADERS
As a team, FGCU ranks first in the nation in 3-point field goals made and 3-point field goal attempts, while checking in at second in 3-point field goals per game. They also rank among the top 30 in scoring margin (26th), total assists (29th), turnovers per game (18), turnover margin (14th), assist to turnover ratio (28th) and win-loss percentage (25th).
ASUN STANDINGS
1. FGCU - 15-3 (1-0 ASUN)
1. Jacksonville - 11-5 (1-0 ASUN)
1. USC Upstate - 6-10 (1-0 ASUN)
1. Lipscomb - 5-11 (1-0 ASUN)
2. Stetson - 9-8 (0-1 ASUN)
2. North Florida - 7-9 (0-1 ASUN)
2. Kennesaw State - 4-8 (0-1 ASUN)
2. NJIT - 2-14 (0-1 ASUN)
CHASING PROGRAM RECORDS
Career Points
1. 1901 - Sarah HANSEN (132 games) - 2009-14
2. 1574 - Whitney KNIGHT (130 games) - 2011-16
3. 1415 - Adrianne MCNALLY (128 games) - 2006-10
4. 1312 - Kaneisha ATWATER (106 games) - 2013-16
5. 1263 - Kelsey JACOBSON (124 games) - 2008-12
6. 1185 - Shannon MURPHY (124 games) - 2007-11
7. 1135 - Stephanie HAAS (139 games) - 2012-16
8. 1067 - Taylor GRADINJAN (130 games) - 2012-present
9. 1062 - Kate SCHRADER (65 games) - 2005-07
10. 1016 - Courtney CHIHIL (120 games) - 2008-12
Career scoring average (minimum 40 games)
1. 16.3 - Kate SCHRADER (65 games) - 2005-07
2. 14.4 - Sarah HANSEN (132 games) - 2009-14
3. 13.5 - Chelsea LYLES (62 games) - 2008-10
4. 13.2 - Andrea CLARKE (55 games) - 2003-05
5. 12.4 - Kaneisha ATWATER (106 games) - 2013-16
6. 12.1 - Whitney KNIGHT (130 games) - 2011-16
7. 11.8 - Robyn SWAIN (57 games) - 2002-04
8. 11.6 - Rosemarie JULIEN (53 games) - 2016-present
9. 11.2 - Delia DE LA TORRE (61 games) - 2006-08
10. 11.1 - Adrianne MCNALLY (128 games) - 2006-10
Career field goals made
1. 685 - Sarah HANSEN (132 games) - 2009-14
2. 523 - Whitney KNIGHT (130 games) - 2011-16
3. 498 - Adrianne MCNALLY (128 games) - 2006-10
4. 457 - Kaneisha ATWATER (106 games) - 2013-16
5. 413 - Stephanie HAAS (139 games) - 2012-16
6. 402 - Shannon MURPHY (124 games) - 2007-11
7. 385 - Kelsey JACOBSON (124 games) - 2008-12
8. 376 - Kate SCHRADER (65 games) - 2005-07
9. 368 - Taylor GRADINJAN (130 games) - 2012-present
10. 327 - Candy Myers (87 games) - 2003-06
Career field goals attempted
1. 1366 - Sarah HANSEN (132 games) - 2009-14
2. 1341 - Whitney KNIGHT (130 games) - 2011-16
3. 1084 - Adrianne MCNALLY (128 games) - 2006-10
4. 1073 - Kaneisha ATWATER (106 games) - 2013-16
5. 1000 - Shannon MURPHY (124 games) - 2007-11
6. 988 - Kelsey JACOBSON (124 games) - 2008-12
7. 945 - Stephanie HAAS (139 games) - 2012-16
8. 921 - Taylor GRADINJAN (130 games) - 2012-present
9. 816 - Candy Myers (87 games) - 2003-06
10. 727 - Courtney CHIHIL (120 games) - 2008-12
Career field goal percentage (minimum 200 made)
1. .593 - Kate SCHRADER (376-634) - 2005-07
2. .527 - Robyn SWAIN (259-491) - 2002-04
3. .524 - Andrea CLARKE (264-504) - 2003-05
4. .511 - Delia DE LA TORRE (266-521) - 2006-08
5. .501 - Sarah HANSEN (685-1366) - 2009-14
6. .493 - Trish FLEMING (206-418) - 2002-03
7. .461 - Rosemarie JULIEN (215-466) - 2016-present
8. .459 - Adrianne MCNALLY (498-1084) - 2006-10
9. .448 - Courtney CHIHIL (326-727) - 2008-12
10. .441 - Noreen MCCALLUM (213-483) - 2002-04
Career 3-point field goals made
1. 330 - Kelsey JACOBSON (124 games) - 2008-12
2. 294 - Whitney KNIGHT (130 games) - 2011-16
3. 258 - Taylor GRADINJAN (130 games) - 2012-present
4. 219 - Shannon MURPHY (124 games) - 2007-11
5. 212 - Candy MYERS (87 games) - 2003-06
6. 171 - Eglah GRIFFIN (95 games) - 2009-12
7. 133 - Jen CONELY (66 games) - 2005-07
8. 123 - Haley LAUGHTER (90 games) - 2013-17
9. 122 - Courtney CHIHIL (120 games) - 2008-12
10. 115 - Megan JONES (86 games) - 2002-05
Career 3-point field goals attempted
1. 846 - Kelsey JACOBSON (124 games) - 2008-12
2. 791 - Whitney KNIGHT (130 games) - 2011-16
3. 696 - Taylor GRADINJAN (130 games) - 2012-present
4. 597 - Shannon MURPHY (124 games) - 2007-11
5. 556 - Candy MYERS (87 games) - 2003-06
6. 418 - Eglah GRIFFIN (95 games) - 2009-12
7. 382 - Kaneisha ATWATER (106 games) - 2013-16
8. 375 - Megan JONES (86 games) - 2002-05
9. 360 - Stephanie HAAS (139 games) - 2012-16
10. 355 - Sarah HANSEN (132 games) - 2009-14
Career 3-point FG percentage (minimum 100 made)
1. .420 - Jen CONELY (133-317) - 2005-07
2. .409 - Eglah GRIFFIN (171-418) - 2009-12
3. .398 - Steffi SORENSEN (105-264) - 2006-07
4. .390 - Kelsey JACOBSON (330-846) - 2008-12
5. .381 - Candy MYERS (212-556) - 2003-06
6. .378 - Haley LAUGHTER (123-325) - 2013-17
7. .378 - Courtney CHIHIL (122-323) - 2008-12
8. .372 - Whitney KNIGHT (294-791) - 2011-16
9. .371 - Taylor GRADINJAN (258-696) - 2012-present
10. .367 - Shannon MURPHY (219-597) - 2007-11
Career free throw percentage (minimum 100 made)
1. .819 - Kelsey JACOBSON (163-199) - 2008-12
2. .810 - Rosemarie JULIEN (102-126) - 2016-present
3. .772 - Whitney KNIGHT (234-303) - 2011-16
4. .772 - Sarah HANSEN (417-540) - 2009-14
5. .769 - Chelsea LYLES (180-234) - 2008-10
6. .768 - Kate SCHRADER (295-384) - 2005-07
7. .766 - Courtney CHIHIL (242-316) - 2008-12
8. .753 - Shannon MURPHY (162-215) - 2007-11
9. .753 - Brittany KENNEDY (110-146) - 2011-13
.753 - Chelsea DERMYER (110-146) - 2005-08
Career rebounds
1. 887 - Sarah HANSEN (329o-558d) - 2009-14
2. 735 - Whitney KNIGHT (114o-621d) - 2011-16
3. 658 - Adrianne MCNALLY (240o-418d) - 2006-10
4. 640 - Robyn SWAIN (236o-404d) - 2002-04
5. 603 - Courtney CHIHIL (183o-420d) - 2008-12
6. 508 - Kaneisha ATWATER (186o-322d) - 2013-16
7. 435 - Taylor GRADINJAN (106o-329d) - 2012-present
8. 422 - Katie MEADOR (193o-229d) - 2012-16
9. 414 - Tytionia ADDERLY (167o-247d) - 2016-present
10. 409 - Kate SCHRADER (194o-215d) - 2005-07
Career rebounding average (minimum 40 games)
1. 11.2 - Robyn SWAIN (57 games) - 2002-04
2. 8.1 - Tytionia ADDERLY (51 games) - 2016-present
3. 6.7 - Sarah HANSEN (132 games) - 2009-14
4. 6.3 - Kate SCHRADER (65 games) - 2005-07
5. 5.8 - Andrea CLARKE (55 games) - 2003-05
6. 5.7 - Whitney KNIGHT (130 games) - 2011-16
7. 5.6 - Delia DE LA TORRE (61 games) - 2006-08
8. 5.5 - Noreen MCCALLUM (57 games) - 2002-04
9. 5.4 - Chelsea LYLES (62 games) - 2008-10
10. 5.1 - Adrianne MCNALLY (128 games) - 2006-10
Career defensive rebounds
1. 621 - Whitney KNIGHT (114o-621d) - 2011-16
2. 558 - Sarah HANSEN (329o-558d) - 2009-14
3. 420 - Courtney CHIHIL (183o-420d) - 2008-12
4. 418 - Adrianne MCNALLY (240o-418d) - 2006-10
5. 404 - Robyn SWAIN (236o-404d) - 2002-04
6. 329 - Taylor GRADINJAN (106o-329d) - 2012-present
7. 324 - DyTiesha DUNSON (61o-324d) - 2012-16
8. 322 - Kaneisha ATWATER (186o-322d) - 2013-16
9. 269 - Stephanie HAAS (96o-269d) - 2012-16
10. 254 - Jaime GLUESING (61o-254d) - 2012-16
Career offensive rebounds
1. 329 - Sarah HANSEN (329o-558d) - 2009-14
2. 240 - Adrianne MCNALLY (240o-418d) - 2006-10
3. 236 - Robyn SWAIN (236o-404d) - 2002-04
4. 194 - Kate SCHRADER (194o-215d) - 2005-07
5. 193 - Katie MEADOR (193o-229d) - 2012-16
6. 186 - Kaneisha ATWATER (186o-322d) - 2013-16
7. 183 - Courtney CHIHIL (183o-420d) - 2008-12
8. 167 - Tytionia ADDERLY (167o-247d) - 2016-present
9. 123 - Noreen MCCALLUM (123o-188d) - 2002-04
10. 122 - Andrea CLARKE (122o-196d) - 2003-05
Career games played
1. 140 - Jaime GLUESING - 2012-16
2. 139 - Stephanie HAAS - 2012-16
3. 135 - Katie MEADOR - 2012-16
4. 132 - Sarah HANSEN - 2009-14
132 - DyTiesha DUNSON - 2012-16
6. 130 - Taylor GRADINJAN - 2012-present
130 - Whitney KNIGHT - 2011-16
8. 128 - Adrianne MCNALLY - 2006-10
9. 124 - Kelsey JACOBSON - 2008-12
124 - Shannon MURPHY - 2007-11
Career games started
1. 131 - Sarah HANSEN - 2009-14
2. 118 - Adrianne MCNALLY - 2006-10
3. 111 - Courtney CHIHIL - 2008-12
4. 108 - Taylor GRADINJAN - 2012-present
5. 103 - Shannon MURPHY - 2007-11
6. 102 - Kaneisha ATWATER - 2013-16
7. 97 - Whitney KNIGHT - 2011-16
8. 96 - DyTiesha DUNSON - 2012-16
9. 69 - Candy MYERS - 2003-06
10. 66 - Eglah GRIFFIN - 2009-12
66 - Megan JONES - 2002-05
Career minutes
1. 3877 - Sarah HANSEN - 2009-14
2. 3621 - DyTiesha DUNSON - 2012-16
3. 3581 - Shannon MURPHY - 2007-11
4. 3532 - Adrianne MCNALLY - 2006-10
5. 3501 - Courtney CHIHIL - 2008-12
6. 3330 - Kelsey JACOBSON - 2008-12
7. 3277 - Whitney KNIGHT - 2011-16
8. 3259 - Taylor GRADINJAN - 2012-present
9. 3160 - Kaneisha ATWATER - 2013-16
10. 2833 - Stephanie HAAS - 2012-16
FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-the-minute information and behind-the-scenes access to the women's basketball program, follow @FGCU_WBB on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook at /FGCUWBB.
COACH SMESKO
FGCU head coach Karl Smesko rallied the 2016-17 Eagles to their seventh-straight 25-win campaign, which culminated in the team's fourth NCAA tournament appearance in six seasons of eligibility. The seven-time ASUN Coach of the Year was named the espnW Mid-Major Coach of the Year in 2015-16 following a run that witnessed the Eagles finish a best-ever 33-6. Over a five-year stretch starting in 2011-12, FGCU racked up four ASUN seasons with a perfect record and capped the run with back-to-back 30 plus win seasons. In 2014-15, the team earned its first top-25 ranking and another NCAA Tournament trip as a seven seed, where FGCU won its first ever NCAA Division-I Tournament game against No. 10 Oklahoma State. With 26 wins in 2016-17, Smesko has guided the Eagles to 13-straight 20-win seasons. He maintains a record of 419-85 (.831) at FGCU, including a 160-15 (.914) mark in ASUN play. Over the past six seasons, he has guided FGCU to a 93-3 (.969) record in conference play. Smesko earned his 400th career coaching win in 2014-15 in just 493 career games, two games faster than UConn's Geno Auriemma. He holds a career head coaching record of 480-112 (.811). Smesko ranks among an elite list of just four active Division I coaches with a career win percentage of .800 or higher, joining 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 visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help.
