FORT MYERS, Fla. - The No. 1 seeded FGCU women's basketball team (28-4) delivered the program's 300th win as a Division-I program in an 83-62 ASUN Championship quarterfinal victory over No. 8 NJIT on Friday in front of 2,600 fans in Alico Arena.

With the victory, the Eagles advance to Wednesday's semifinal where they will host No. 4 seed Lipscomb University. The Green and Blue have now won eight straight, 19 of 20 and 23 of its past 25 games.

"I thought we got off to a fast start offensively in the first quarter," FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. "We hit a bunch of (3-pointers) early. Tay (Gradinjan) was hot early, which really helped us get a little of a cushion. I give NJIT credit. They played well today, and there was stretches where they outplayed us. It showed us some things we got to get cleaned up before we play the next game."

The game produced several historic moments. First, the Green and Blue captured the program's 300th win at the Division-I level (2007-present). During that stretch, the team has tallied a 300-65 (.822) record.

Second, the Eagles broke their own ASUN and program record for most 3-point field goals made in a season as Jessica Cattani's second quarter 3-pointer gave the team 373 this year, topping the 2015-16 team's 372, and they accomplished the feat in seven fewer games.

Following Saturday's performance, the team sits at 380 this year, just 44 shy of Sacramento State's all-time NCAA record of 424 set in 2014-15. Additionally, the team's 11.9 3-point field goals per game is currently tied for the best in the nation with DePaul and would rank fourth best all-time in NCAA Division I women's basketball history if the season ended today.

3-Point Field Goals Made In A Single Season
1. 380 (32 games) - 2017-18
2. 372 (39 games) - 2015-16
3. 350 (32 games) - 2010-11
4. 347 (34 games) - 2013-14
5. 342 (32 games) - 2011-12

China Dow also made history as she scored four points to eclipse 1,000 in her NCAA career that began at Middle Tennessee. The senior guard has scored 653 in the Green and Blue and is averaging a career-high 11.3 points per game this year.

"Obviously it was a great career milestone for China," Smesko said. "I'm sure she's excited about it, and it shows what a great player she's been throughout her career."

Taylor Gradinjan made four 3-pointers in the game's first seven minutes to help FGCU open up a 26-11 lead. NJIT trimmed its deficit a bit, but Erica Nelson found Tytionia Adderly for a last second layup to make it a 13-point home advantage through one.

Cattani's (Muskego, Wis./Muskego HS) historic 3-pointer, followed by a pair of free throws from Rosemarie Julien with 5:02 left in the half gave the Eagles a 20-point lead. The lead twice grew to 21 moments later on a 3-pointer from Nasrin Ulel and a pair of free throws from Nelson (Kansas City, Mo./Lee Summit North HS).

Early in the second half, Gradinjan (Cudahy, Wis./Cudahy HS) made her fifth 3-pointer, and Ulel (Murrietta, Calif./Murrietta HS) scored five straight points to push the lead to 26. A Julien (Port St. Lucie, Fla./Treasure Coast HS) 3-pointer with 3:19 left in the quarter bumped the lead to 27, the largest of the game.

NJIT scored the final seven points of the third quarter, which set up a back-and-forth final frame that saw FGCU's lead hover between 17 and 22 points. The largest lead of the quarter came on Lisa Zderadicka's 3-pointer with 41 seconds left gave the Green and Blue an 83-61 advantage.

Overall, the Eagles were led in scoring by Gradinjan, who tallied 20 points and seven rebounds on 7-for-13 shooting (6-for-11 from 3-point range). Her long range shooting tied a career-high for 3-point field goals made in a game, and it was the seventh time in a career she had that many, including three this season. Moreover, she eclipsed 1,200 career points and now has 1,210.

Julien, meanwhile, poured in 16 points while adding four assists, four steals and three rebounds. She made six of her seven free throw attempts and tied her career-high in steals. The senior now has five straight games with at least 15 points. During that stretch, she is averaging 18 points per contest and has pushed her career scoring total to 824.

Ulel also continued a torrid offensive streak that has seen her produce double figures in four straight and five of six. The sophomore guard from The Golden State finished with 13 points on 5-for-11 shooting while adding two steals.

Nelson checked in with 11 points in what was her first double digit scoring effort since Feb. 1. It was her 10th game this season with double figures and the 23rd of her career. Furthermore, she dished out a game-high seven assists in what was her sixth game over the past eight with at least five, and she had one block to push her career total to 21 - just four shy of moving into the top 10 in program history.

Adderly (Jupiter, Fla./Cardinal Newman HS), meanwhile, had 11 of her game-high 13 rebounds in the first half and finished just one point shy of her 10th career double-double. The sophomore grabbed seven offensive boards, finished 4-for-6 from the field and added four assists, two steals and a block. She now has 10 or more rebounds in six of the past seven and eight of the past 10 games. It was her 28th career double-digit rebounding effort.

Despite scoring only three points, Zderadicka (Vienna, Austria/HAK Korneuburg) was one of four players with four or more assists and tied Julien for the game-high in steals with a season-high four.

With the victory, FGCU inched closer to the program's third 30-win season in the past four seasons. The Eagles, who are now 13-0 in the first two rounds of the ASUN Championship all-time, have won 25 or more games in eight straight and 20 or more in 14 straight.

The Eagles are now 28-0 this year when forcing at least 15 turnovers.

ASUN NOTES
In other quarterfinal matchups on Friday, No. 6 North Florida upset No. 3 Stetson 63-55 in overtime, while No. 2 Jacksonville defeated No. 7 Kennesaw State 79-52. No. 4 Lipscomb handled things pretty easily in a 95-53 win over No. 5 USC Upstate.

Thus, No. 2 Jacksonville will face No. 6 North Florida on Wednesday, while No. 1 FGCU will face No. 4 Lipscomb in the other semifinal. The Eagles are 6-0 all-time in semifinal games and will be looking for the program's seventh straight appearance in the championship game.

FGCU is also now 14-2 all-time as the No. 1 seed and 17-2 overall in ASUN tournament play, which is the best winning percentage among all conference teams. Aside from Stetson (28-27) and Jacksonville (15-13), no other program has won more than five games.

The No. 1 seed is now 61-14 all-time in ASUN tournament history, while the No. 8 seed is 3-22. The top seed has advanced to the championship game in six straight and 25 of 32 ASUN tournaments all-time. The last time it didn't happen was in 2010-11 - the year before the Eagles gained NCAA Division-I postseason eligibility.

In fact, since gaining Division-I postseason eligibility in 2011-12, FGCU has won four of the six ASUN tournament titles (2011-12, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2016-17). In the lone two years they didn't win, they still advanced to the championship game (2012-13 and 2015-16). With a championship game victory this year, the Eagles would hold the all-time ASUN record for most postseason tournament titles, breaking a tie with Stetson who won in 1988-89, 2004-05, 2010-11 and 2012-13.

Team - Record (Tournament Appearances)
FGCU - 17-2 (6)
Stetson - 28-27 (30)
Jacksonville - 15-13 (14)
Lipscomb - 5-9 (10)
North Florida - 4-7 (7)
USC Upstate - 2-7 (6)
Kennesaw State - 2-9 (8)
NJIT - 0-3 (2)

FGCU is one of four active ASUN members to win the ASUN tournament along with Stetson (1988-89, 2004-05, 2010-11, 2012-13), Jacksonville (2015-16) and Lipscomb (2003-04).

SERIES HISTORY
FGCU is now 9-0 all-time against NJIT, including a 3-0 record in postseason play and a 5-0 record in Alico Arena. Friday also represented the third consecutive game in the series that the Eagles put 80 plus points on the scoreboard.

HOME SUCCESS
This year, FGCU is 16-0 in Alico Arena and is just one of three Division-I schools in the country to win at least 15 games on its home court while also being undefeated - joining Baylor and Mississippi State.

FGCU is now 245-18 all-time in games at Alico Arena dating back to the program's inception in 2002-03. Among those, the Eagles are 168-12 all-time in Division-I era contests and 91-2 in ASUN games. In ASUN tournament games, the Green and Blue have recorded 11 wins in 12 contests at home.

300 WINS AS DIVISION-I PROGRAM
After the program began in 2002-03 as an NAIA school, FGCU transitioned into a Division-II school and then became Division-I in 2007-08. Postseason eligibility began in 2011-12, and head coach Karl Smesko has been there for every season. In fact, during his time at FGCU, the program has compiled 15 seasons with 20 + wins and 12 seasons with 25 + wins. Since becoming a Division-I program, the Eagles have not won fewer than 22 games, and they have never recorded a season with double digit losses in the program's entire history.

Division-I era
2007-08: 22-9, 13-3 ASUN (2nd)
2008-09: 26-5, 17-3 ASUN (1st)
2009-10: 24-7, 17-3 ASUN (2nd)
2010-11: 28-4, 17-3 ASUN (1st)
2011-12: 29-3, 18-0 ASUN (1st)
2012-13: 27-7, 18-0 ASUN (1st)
2013-14: 26-8, 17-1 ASUN (1st)
2014-15: 31-3, 14-0 ASUN (1st)
2015-16: 33-6, 14-0 ASUN (1st)
2016-17: 26-9, 12-2 ASUN (2nd)
2017-18: 28-4, 13-1 ASUN (1st)
D-I Total: 300-65, 170-16 ASUN

RECORD UPDATES
Gradinjan (294-for-790) is now on the verge of passing Whitney Knight (294-for-791, 2011-16) for second place in career 3-point field goals made and attempted. Kelsey Jacobson (330-for-846, 2008-12) remains the all-time leader in both categories. With her 6-for-11 performance on Friday, Gradinjan is also tied with Knight for eighth place in career 3-point percentage at .372.

Gradinan (416), who passed Stephanie Haas (413, 2012-16) for fifth place on the career field goals made list on Friday, remains fifth in field goals attempted with 1,036 - 38 shy of Kaneisha Atwater (1,073, 2013-16) in fourth. Also, her 1,210 career points is 53 shy of tying Jacobson for fifth place. She remains No. 1 in games played with 144 and now has 122 starts, nine shy of Sarah Hansen (131, 2009-14) in first place.

Julien (824) passed Eglah Griffin (813, 2009-12) for 13th place on the career scoring list. In fact, her 12.3 career scoring average is the fourth best in the Division-I era. Dow (657 points) moved up to 19th by passing Megan Jones (651, 2002-05). Furthermore, the duo of Dow (.468) and Julien (.461) remain seventh and eighth all-time in career field goal percentage.

In terms of free throws, Julien (135-for-166, .813) remains in second place in career percentage behind Kelsey Jacobson (2008-12, .819).

On the glass, Adderly's 13 rebounds give her 532 total. The program's Division-I era leader in rebounds per game remains in sixth place in total rebounds - 71 shy of Courtney Chihil (603, 2008-12) in fifth. Gradinjan (483) remains eighth in total rebounds, but her seven on Friday moved her closer to reaching 500 and becoming only the fifth player in program history with at least 1,200 points and 500 rebounds.

Nelson (183) eclipsed Stephanie Haas (182, 2012-16) for 14th place in career assists.

FOLLOW ALONG
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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. Including this year, Smesko has guided the Eagles to 14-straight 20-win seasons. He maintains a record of 432-86 (.834) at FGCU, including a 170-16 (.914) mark in ASUN play. Over the past six + seasons, he has guided FGCU to a 105-4 (.963) record in conference play with four undefeated seasons. 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 493-113 (.813). 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.