PRINCETON, N.J. - Another big mid-major clash awaits the FGCU women's basketball team as the Eagles (3-0) will meet Princeton (3-0) at 1 p.m. on Sunday in Jadwin Gymnasium.
Both teams are ranked within the top 10 of the CollegeInsider.com and espnW mid-major polls. The Eagles are fifth and seventh, respectively, while the Tigers are ninth and sixth, respectively. In the lone USA Today Coaches Poll of the season, FGCU received two votes.
FGCU has never played Princeton, but the Eagles hold a 4-0 record all-time against Ivy League teams - led by a 3-0 slate against Harvard. The Green and Blue also defeated Cornell nearly 11 years ago and won their only road Ivy League matchup at Harvard on Jan. 2, 2015.
Eagles vs The Ivy League
Dec. 30, 2008 - W 70-36 over Cornell in Fort Myers
Jan. 2, 2015 - W 68-55 over Harvard in Cambridge
Dec. 5, 2015 - W 74-65 over Harvard in Fort Myers
Dec. 20, 2017 - W 65-56 over Harvard in Fort Myers
Princeton has defeated Rider (80-47), George Washington (75-50) and Seton Hall (78-76) to open the season. They are led by potential WNBA first round draft pick Bella Alarie, who is averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. Carlie Littlefield is averaging 17 points, 6.7 rebounds, five assists and four steals per game, while four others are averaging at least eight points per contest. Littlefield nearly produced a triple-double in the team's win over George Washington, which earned her Ivy League player of the week recognition.
Offensive Surge
Davion Wingate is off to the best individual three-game start to a season in program history. The senior guard has poured in 66 points, or 22 per game, in wins over Florida International, Webber International and UCF. In the most recent win over the Knights, she had a career-high 29 points and made seven 3-point field goals. Overall, she is shooting 25-for-36 (.694) from the field, including 13-for-20 (.650) from 3-point range.
Wingate's (Atlanta, Ga./Stephenson HS) scoring output is one better than Jen Conely's 65-point start in the 2005-06 season. In terms of the Division I era (2007-present), she topped the previous best start of 63 points set by
Nasrin Ulel in 2017-18. In fact, only 12 players have scored 60 or more points through the first
four games of a season since the program's inception in 2002-03.
Most Points Through Three Games
2019-20 -
Davion Wingate - 66 points, 22 PPG
2005-06 - Jen Conely - 65 points, 21.7 PPG
2002-03 - Trish Fleming - 64 points, 21.3 PPG
2017-18 -
Nasrin Ulel - 63 points, 21 PPG
2013-14 - Whitney Knight - 54 points, 18.0 PPG
2005-06 - Kate Schrader - 52 points, 17.3 PPG
2007-08 - Delia De La Torre - 51 points, 17 PPG
2014-15 - Stephanie Haas - 50 points, 16.7 PPG
2006-07 - Steffi Sorensen - 49 points, 16.3 PPG
2003-04 - Noreen McCallum - 48 points, 16.0 PPG
Most Points Through Four Games
2002-03 - Trish Fleming - 83 points, 20.8 PPG
2017-18 -
Nasrin Ulel - 81 points, 20.3 PPG
2005-06 - Jen Conely - 75 points, 18.8 PPG
2012-13 - Sarah Hansen - 67 points, 16.8 PPG
2007-08 - Delia De La Torre - 66 points, 16.5 PPG
2011-12 - Sarah Hansen - 65 points, 16.3 PPG
2006-07 - Kate Schrader - 61 points, 15.3 PPG
2008-09 - Adrianne McNally - 61 points, 15.3 PPG
2014-15 - Stephanie Haas - 61 points, 15.3 PPG
2015-16 - Kaneisha Atwater - 61 points, 15.3 PPG
Not only is Wingate producing, but the Eagles as a team have scored more points overall (271, 90.3 PPG) through three games than any other team in the program's Division I era, and they've held opponents to just 152 points, or 50.7 per game, which is the best defensive output in the same era.
Most points for FGCU through three games
D-I era only
2019-20 - 271, 90.3 PPG
2018-19 - 261 - 87.0 PPG
2014-15 - 254, 84.7 PPG
2017-18 - 253, 84.3 PPG
2012-13 - 229, 76.3 PPG
Fewest points allowed by FGCU through three games
D-I era only
2019-20 - 152, 50.7 PPG
2013-14 - 166, 55.3 PPG
2015-16 - 167, 55.7 PPG
2010-11 - 170, 56.7 PPG
2016-17 - 171, 57.0 PPG
This three-game start got moving with an NCAA record-shattering performance by the Eagles to open the season. In a 100-54 win over Florida International on the road, FGCU became the first Division I women's basketball team in NCAA history to outscore an opponent by 39 points in a quarter. In fact, the 41-2 second quarter represented the fifth-most points scored by a team since the NCAA switched to quarters, and the first half featured a 47-0 run by the Green and Blue. Defensively, the two points allowed over that 10-minute stretch is tied for the second-fewest the team has allowed in any quarter all-time.
Experienced Scorers
The Green and Blue are on pace to have four players on the roster that scored at least 1,000 points in their NCAA career for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Nasrin Ulel (958),
Keri Jewett-Giles (950),
Davion Wingate (944) and
Ashli O'Neal (872) are all closing in on the mark, and they would join the 2015-16 team that featured Whitney Knight (1,574), Kaneisha Atwater (1,498), Taylor Gradinjan (1,234) and Stephanie Haas (1,138). However, it would be the first season in program history in which four players reached 1,000 points in the same year.
Rebounding Legend
Senior forward
Tytionia Adderly (Jupiter, Fla./Cardinal Newman HS) has 874 career rebounds, which is just 14 shy of surpassing Sarah Hansen (887, 2010-14) for the most in program history. Furthermore, she is thus attempting to become the first player in program history with 1,000 rebounds, which would also make her only the 12th in ASUN history to achieve that milestone. She currently ranks 20th in conference history, just short of passing Jessica Bobbitt (Belmont, 2005-09, 878) and Haley Nelson (Belmont, 2008-12, 880).
NCAA Team Statistical Leaders (Top 50)
Scoring offense - 11th, 90.3
Scoring margin - 12th, 39.7
Assists/game - 13th, 21.3
Steals - 26th, 38
Steals/game - 36th, 12.7
Scoring defense - 43rd, 50.7
Assist/Turnover Ratio
1. Montana, 2.73
2. Abilene Christian, 2.32
Baylor, 2.32
4. Oregon, 2.28
5. FGCU, 2.13
Penn, 2.13
Assists
1. Baylor, 88
2. Marquette, 85
3. Oregon State, 70
4. Missouri State, 67
5. UCLA, 66
Tennessee, 66
Santa Clara, 66
Drake, 66
9. Oral Roberts, 65
10. FGCU, 64
Temple, 64
3-Point Field Goals Attempted
1. FGCU, 129
2. Western Carolina, 127
3. High Point, 119
4. Oral Roberts, 110
5. Temple, 107
5. Western Illinois, 107
3-Point Field Goals Made
1. FGCU, 49
2. Western Illinois, 41
3. Oral Roberts, 39
4. Austin Peay, 38
5. Western Carolina, 36
Temple, 36
3-Point Field Goals Made Per Game
1. FGCU, 16.3
2. Abilene Christian, 13.5
3. Oregon, 13.0
Iona, 13.0
5. Austin Peay, 12.7
Turnover Margin
1. Troy, 15.50
2. FGCU, 15.33
3. Morgan State, 14.50
4. Washington, 14.33
5. Montana, 14.00
Fewest Turnovers Per Game
1. UNC Asheville, 7.0
2. Georgia State, 9.0
Creighton, 9.0
4. Fresno State, 9.5
5. FGCU, 10.0
North Carolina, 10.0
UC Santa Barbara, 10.0
Akron, 10.0
NCAA Individual Statistical Leaders (Top 50)
Assist/Turnover ratio -
Keri Jewett-Giles (1st, 16.00)
Assists -
Keri Jewett-Giles (42nd, 16)
Field goals made -
Davion Wingate (15th, 25)
Field goal percentage -
Davion Wingate (32nd, .694)
Points -
Davion Wingate (19th, 66)
PPG -
Davion Wingate (28th, 22.0)
3-point field goals attempted -
Nasrin Ulel (43rd, 23)
3-point field goals made -
Davion Wingate (7th, 13)
3-point field goals made/game -
Davion Wingate (13th, 4.33)
3-point field goal percentage -
Anja Marinkovic (12th, .667),
Davion Wingate (31st, .650)
FGCU Division I era career records
(2007-present)
Points
1. 1,901 - Sarah HANSEN (132 games) - 2010-14
2. 1,574 - Whitney KNIGHT (130 games) - 2011-12,13-16
3. 1,312 - Kaneisha ATWATER (106 games) - 2013-16
4. 1,263 - Kelsey JACOBSON (124 games) - 2008-12
5. 1,234 - Taylor GRADINJAN (148 games) - 2012-13,14-18
6. 1,185 - Shannon MURPHY (124 games) - 2007-11
7. 1,181 - Adrianne MCNALLY (93 games) - 2007-10
8. 1,138 - Stephanie HAAS (139 games) - 2012-16
9. 1,016 - Courtney CHIHIL (120 games) - 2008-12
10. 958 - Nasrin ULEL (98 games) - 2016-present
Field goals made
1. 685 - Sarah HANSEN (132 games) - 2010-14
2. 523 - Whitney KNIGHT (130 games) - 2011-12,13-16
3. 457 - Kaneisha ATWATER (106 games) - 2013-16
4. 424 - Taylor GRADINJAN (148 games) - 2012-13,14-18
5. 414 - Stephanie HAAS (139 games) - 2012-16
6. 409 - Adrianne MCNALLY (93 games) - 2007-10
7. 402 - Shannon MURPHY (124 games) - 2007-11
8. 385 - Kelsey JACOBSON (124 games) - 2008-12
9. 339 - Nasrin ULEL (98 games) - 2016-present
10. 326 - Courtney CHIHIL (120 games) - 2008-12
3-point field goals made
1. 330 - Kelsey JACOBSON (124 games) - 2008-12
2. 299 - Taylor GRADINJAN (148 games) - 2012-13,14-18
3. 294 - Whitney KNIGHT (130 games) - 2011-12,13-16
4. 219 - Shannon MURPHY (124 games) - 2007-11
5. 171 - Eglah GRIFFIN (95 games) - 2009-12
6. 167 - Nasrin ULEL (98 games) - 2016-present
7. 123 - Haley LAUGHTER (90 games) - 2014-17
8. 122 - Rosemarie JULIEN (71 games) - 2016-18
122 - Courtney CHIHIL (120 games) - 2008-12
10. 114 - Sarah HANSEN (132 games) - 2010-14
Rebounds
1. 887 - Sarah HANSEN (329o-558d) - 2010-14
2. 874 - Tytionia ADDERLY (346o-528d) - 2016-present
3. 735 - Whitney KNIGHT (114o-621d) - 2011-12,13-16
4. 603 - Courtney CHIHIL (183o-420d) - 2008-12
5. 508 - Kaneisha ATWATER (187o-321d) - 2013-16
6. 504 - Adrianne MCNALLY (175o-329d) - 2007-10
7. 498 - Taylor GRADINJAN (117o-381d) - 2012-13,14-18
8. 422 - Katie MEADOR (193o-229d) - 2012-16
9. 385 - DyTiesha DUNSON (61o-324d) - 2012-16
10. 365 - Stephanie HAAS (96o-269d) - 2012-16
Assists
1. 454 - DyTiesha DUNSON - 2012-16
2. 419 - Shannon MURPHY - 2007-11
3. 333 - Courtney CHIHIL - 2008-12
4. 285 - Adrianne MCNALLY - 2007-10
5. 260 - Brittany KENNEDY - 2011-13
6. 250 - Sarah HANSEN - 2010-14
7. 245 - Whitney KNIGHT - 2011-12,13-16
8. 239 - Kelsey JACOBSON - 2008-12
9. 229 - Kaneisha ATWATER - 2013-16
10. 213 - Tytionia ADDERLY - 2016-present
Steals
1. 249 - Sarah HANSEN - 2010-14
2. 206 - Whitney KNIGHT - 2011-12,13-16
3. 199 - Courtney CHIHIL - 2008-12
4. 168 - Shannon MURPHY - 2007-11
5. 153 - Kaneisha ATWATER - 2013-16
6. 148 - Brittany KENNEDY - 2011-13
7. 147 - Tytionia ADDERLY - 2016-present
8. 143 - DyTiesha DUNSON - 2012-16
9. 114 - Taylor GRADINJAN - 2012-13,14-18
10. 112 - Jenna COBB - 2013-15
Games started
1. 131 - Sarah HANSEN - 2010-14
2. 126 - Taylor GRADINJAN - 2012-13,14-18
3. 111 - Courtney CHIHIL - 2008-12
4. 103 - Shannon MURPHY - 2007-11
5. 102 - Kaneisha ATWATER - 2013-16
6. 97 - Whitney KNIGHT - 2011-12,13-16
7. 96 - DyTiesha DUNSON - 2012-16
8. 93 - Tytionia ADDERLY - 2016-present
9. 90 - Adrianne MCNALLY - 2007-10
10. 71 - Rosemarie JULIEN - 2016-18
TICKET INFORMATION
Season and mini-plan packages for the 2019-20 FGCU women's basketball team are now on sale. More information can be accessed by visiting FGCUTickets.com. To purchase tickets, or for additional inquiries, call the FGCU Ticket Office at 239-590-7145 Monday-Friday from 9 AM-5 PM.
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.
SUPPORT THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAM
Do you enjoy watching or following the FGCU women's basketball program? Would you like to play a role in the growth of the program and help take it to heights never before experienced? If so, you can reach out to Director of Advancement, Matt Ring, about opportunities to make an impact on the experiences of our student-athletes. He can be reached by email at mring@fgcu.edu or by office phone at 239-745-4434.
COACH SMESKO
FGCU head coach Karl Smesko led the 2018-19 Eagles to the program's fifth undefeated conference regular season since 2011-12, as well as the ninth consecutive season with at least 25 victories. The Green and Blue finished 28-5 overall and 16-0 in ASUN play, capturing the team's ninth ASUN regular season championship and sixth ASUN tournament championship. The team finished the season receiving votes in the final AP Poll and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in eight seasons before falling to host No. 19 Miami in the first round. It was the team's 12th-straight postseason appearance in 12 years of Division-I existence - the only program to ever do such.
Over the past five seasons, Smesko has guided FGCU to three 30-plus win seasons while recording a 149-28 (.841) record overall. That win total ranks eighth-best in the nation over that stretch - the most among all mid-majors and ahead of programs such as Oregon State and Stanford.
Including 2018-19, Smesko has also guided the Eagles to 15-straight 20-win seasons. He maintains a record of 527-119 (.816) overall in his career (third highest winning percentage among active D1 coaches behind only UConn's Geno Auriemma and Baylor's Kim Mulkey), including a 186-16 (.921) mark in ASUN play. Over the past eight seasons (including 2018-19), he has guided FGCU to a 124-4 (.969) record in conference play with five undefeated seasons. The now nine-time ASUN Coach of the Year earned his 400th career coaching win in 2014-15 in just 493 career games, two games faster than Auriemma.
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April 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 raise awareness.
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 80 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 12 seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just eight seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 36 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including both men's and women's soccer again in 2018. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the spring 2018 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for twenty consecutive semesters. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 - being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
--
FGCUATHLETICS.COM--
