HOUSTON, Texas - The FGCU women's basketball team (8-1) will look to continue its momentum with a 3 p.m. ET road matchup at Houston (4-4) on Wednesday in the Fertitta Center.
In the only other all-time matchup between the two teams,
Nasrin Ulel scored five points in the final 1:13, including a 3-pointer with 37 seconds left after Houston had trimmed its deficit to just one for the third time, to give FGCU a 76-71 win on Nov. 28 last year. The Eagles survived a 28-point fourth-quarter outburst from the Cougars after building a 61-43 lead through three.
So Close
Over the past two days, FGCU jumped up the receiving votes sections of both the AP and USA Today Coaches polls, but fell just short of being ranked. The Eagles sit 27th in the AP and 28th in the Coaches.
Big Time Sweep
FGCU is coming off a three-day sweep of defending national runner-up Notre Dame, No. 20 USF and reigning NCAA Sweet 16 participant South Dakota State at this past weekend's Cancun Challenge.
In the win over Notre Dame, head coach
Karl Smesko won his first-ever matchup against Muffet McGraw. Both entered this year ranked among the top five winningest active women's basketball coaches in Division I history. Each of them has led their programs to nine-straight 25-win seasons, two of only four teams to do that along with UConn and Baylor.
Against USF,
Nasrin Ulel broke out with a season-high 23 points to improve the Eagles to 3-2 all-time against the Bulls. It was FGCU's fourth all-time win over a ranked team, including its second-highest upset of such a team behind No. 15 Missouri in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. The Green and Blue are now also 4-4 in their last eight meetings against ranked teams.
FGCU is now 3-1 all-time against South Dakota State, including a 2-0 record in Mexico.
Down Go The Fighting Irish
With their win over defending national runner-up Notre Dame last week, FGCU produced its sixth all-time win against an ACC school, which is its most against any Power 5 conference. The Eagles have also won five against the SEC, four vs the Big 10 and one apiece against the Pac 12 and Big 12. They'll get a chance to improve their 17-27 all-time record against Power 5 schools against LSU on Dec. 19 and Duke on Dec. 29.
Rebounding Legend
Senior forward
Tytionia Adderly recently eclipsed Sarah Hansen's (887, 2010-14) career rebounding record. She now has 940 and is 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 surpassed Carsandra "San" Kegler (Georgia State, 1988-93, 934) for 15th on the ASUN's all-time list last weekend, and she now sits two shy of passing Kristy Brown (Stetson, 2001-05, 941) in 14th and 17 short of eclipsing Kat Sungy (Jacksonville, 1999-2003, 956) for 13th.
Furthermore,
Adderly (Jupiter, Fla./Cardinal Newman HS) is one of only four players in the program's Division I history to rank in the top 10 in career rebounds, assists, steals and blocks - joining Sarah Hansen, Whitney Knight and DyTiesha Dunson.
Trio reaches 1,000, O'Neal looking to join
This past weekend,
Davion Wingate and
Nasrin Ulel each surpassed 1,000 career points to join
Keri Jewett-Giles in the exclusive club, while
Ashli O'Neal (925) is looking to join them soon. Should she do so, it would give FGCU 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 - 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.
Wingate, who has 1,040 points, reached the milestone in the second quarter of the team's win over Notre Dame, while Ulel (1,031) surpassed the mark with a first-half buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the win over No. 20 USF.
ASUN Awards
On Tuesday, graduate transfer guard
Ashli O'Neal won her second straight ASUN newcomer of the week award, and
Keri Jewett-Giles was named the ASUN player of the week for the first time this season. It is also her fourth such career honor.
NCAA Team Statistical Leaders (Top 50)
Assists/game - 41st, 16.8
Free throw attempts - 50th, 152
Rebounds - 47th, 318
Scoring margin - 29th, 20.6
Scoring offense - 17th, 81.2
Steals/game - 31st, 11.2
Turnovers forced/game - 25th, 21.89
Win-loss percentage - 19th, 88.9
Assist/turnover ratio
1. Oregon - 1.98
2. UCLA - 1.71
3. Creighton - 1.63
4. FGCU - 1.62
5. Penn - 1.58
Assists
1. Baylor - 179
2. Drake - 169
3. DePaul - 162
4. Maryland - 160
5. North Dakota - 159
6. Oregon - 158
7. South Carolina - 155
8. FGCU - 151
9. Marquette - 150
Portland - 150
Steals
1. Alcorn - 139
2. East Carolina - 117
3. Jacksonville - 113
4. Maryland - 110
5. Navy - 107
6. Norfolk State - 104
Morgan State - 104
8. Michigan State - 102
9. FGCU - 101
10. Mississippi State - 98
3-point field goals attempted
1. FGCU - 339
2. Western Carolina - 245
3. DePaul - 244
4. Western Illinois - 231
5. Oregon - 226
3-point field goals made
1. FGCU - 120
2. DePaul - 81
South Dakota - 81
4. Arkansas - 76
5. NC State - 75
3-point field goals made/game
1. FGCU - 13.3
2. DePaul - 11.6
3. Abilene Christian - 11.2
High Point - 11.2
5. UAB - 10.7
Turnover margin
1. Mississippi State - 12.22
2. East Carolina - 11.63
3. FGCU - 11.56
4. Minnesota - 11.50
5. Maryland - 11.25
Fewest turnovers/game
1. Creighton - 9.6
2. North Carolina - 10.2
3. FGCU - 10.3
Cincinnati - 10.3
5. Colorado State - 10.6
NCAA Individual Statistical Leaders (Top 50)
Assist/turnover ratio -
Tytionia Adderly (33rd, 51)
Assists -
Keri Jewett-Giles (45th, 35)
Defensive rebounds/game -
Tytionia Adderly (17th, 7.7)
Field goal attempts -
Keri Jewett-Giles (25th, 120)
Field goals made -
Davion Wingate (5th, 60),
Keri Jewett-Giles (27th, 53)
Field goal percentage -
Davion Wingate (21st, .619)
Total points -
Davion Wingate (7th, 162),
Keri Jewett-Giles (22nd, 145)
Free throw percentage -
Ashli O'Neal (49th, .889)
Rebounds -
Tytionia Adderly (5th, 94)
Steals -
Keri Jewett-Giles (29th, 21)
3-point field goals attempted -
Nasrin Ulel (16th, 63),
Keri Jewett-Giles (34th, 56)
3-point field goals made -
Keri Jewett-Giles (12th, 24),
Davion Wingate (25th, 22)
3-point field goal percentage -
Davion Wingate (19th, .512)
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. 1,031 - Nasrin ULEL (104 games) - 2016-present
10. 1,016 - Courtney CHIHIL (120 games) - 2008-12
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. 368 - Nasrin ULEL (104 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. 178 - Nasrin ULEL (104 games) - 2016-present
6. 171 - Eglah GRIFFIN (95 games) - 2009-12
7. 123 - Haley LAUGHTER (90 games) - 2014-17
8. 122 - Courtney CHIHIL (120 games) - 2008-12
122 - Rosemarie JULIEN (71 games) - 2016-18
10. 114 - Sarah HANSEN (132 games) - 2010-14
Rebounds
1. 940 - Tytionia ADDERLY (365o-575d) - 2016-present
2. 887 - Sarah HANSEN (329o-558d) - 2010-14
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. 231 - Tytionia ADDERLY - 2016-present
10. 229 - Kaneisha ATWATER - 2013-16
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. 159 - Tytionia ADDERLY - 2016-present
6. 153 - Kaneisha ATWATER - 2013-16
7. 148 - Brittany KENNEDY - 2011-13
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. 99 - Tytionia ADDERLY - 2016-present
7. 97 - Whitney KNIGHT - 2011-12,13-16
8. 96 - DyTiesha DUNSON - 2012-16
9. 90 - Adrianne MCNALLY - 2007-10
10. 76 - Nasrin ULEL - 2016-present
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 532-120 (.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.
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