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kennesaw wbb web recap 02-23-19
Brad Young
48
Kennesaw State KSU 8-18, 4-9
79
Winner FGCU FGCU 23-4, 14-0
Kennesaw State KSU
8-18, 4-9
48
Final
79
FGCU FGCU
23-4, 14-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Kennesaw State KSU 8 11 12 17 48
FGCU FGCU 28 15 22 14 79

Next Game:

at Jacksonville

3/2/2019 | 2 PM

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Full Schedule
Mar. 02 (Sat) / 2 PM
at Jacksonville
History

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Nicholas Huenefeld (@niklaustradamus)

Ulel, Washington Combine For 43, Lead @FGCU_WBB Past Kennesaw State, 79-48

Story Links

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Nasrin Ulel netted a game-high 24 points, while Destiny Washington produced a double-double in historic fashion as the FGCU women's basketball team (23-4, 14-0) clinched an outright ASUN regular season championship and the No. 1 seed in the ASUN tournament with a 79-48 win over Kennesaw State (8-18, 4-9) in Alico Arena on Saturday.

It represents the program's ninth ASUN regular season title. The Eagles have now won 14 straight overall, which is tied for the fourth-longest streak in the nation, and they have tallied wins in 21 straight and 27 of the past 28 ASUN regular season games dating back to last season.

"I thought we've had a couple really good days of practice," FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. "We came out and executed great for the first 10 minutes. We had a 20-point lead at the end of the first quarter. I was really happy with the way we came out of the gate. Destiny had an exceptional game - 8-for-8 from the field, 19 and 11. She just keeps getting better and better. It's nice to see. And Nas had a big offensive night."

Ulel (Murrieta, Calif./Murrieta HS) finished 9-for-16 from the field, including 4-for-8 from 3-point range, while adding four assists and a game-high four steals. She ran her career scoring total to 862 points, which ties Rosemarie Julien (2016-18) for the 10th-most points in the program's Division-I era. She has also tallied 10 consecutive double-digit scoring performances, including three 20-plus efforts.

Washington (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North HS), meanwhile, had 19 points, a game-high 11 rebounds, a game-high four blocks, two steals and two assists. In the first quarter alone, the graduate transfer had 14 points, five rebounds and three blocks. Overall, she finished 8-for-8 from the field (career-best 3-for-3 from 3-point range), which allowed her to become one of just two players in program history, including the first in Alico Arena, to finish perfect from the field with at least eight attempts (Joyce Iamstrong, 03-08-13, 9-for-9 vs UNF).

As a team, the Eagles scored the game's first six points, went on an 8-0 run moments later and later compiled a 15-0 run that pushed their lead to 17 with 8:35 left in the half. Ulel then scored 12 points in the first four minutes of the second half to spearhead a 17-2 run that gave the Green and Blue a 60-21 lead - the largest of the game.

Keri Jewett-Giles (Fort Myers, Fla./Dunbar HS) added 11 points, a game-high five assists, four rebounds and three steals. Davion Wingate (Atlanta, Ga./Stephenson HS) chipped in eight points off the bench.

The Eagles, who were playing without starting point guard Lisa Zderadicka (Vienna, Austria/HAK Korneuburg), finished 31-for-61 (.508) from the field, including 10-for-20 from 3-point range. It was the 15th time the team has made double-digits from long range - the 11th-straight season the team has reached that benchmark.

FGCU has held opponents to single-digit quarters 19 times in conference play, including an eight-point first quarter against Kennesaw State.

The Green and Blue are now tied for the sixth-longest winning streak in the program's Division-I era.

Longest Winning Streaks (Division-I Era)
26 games – 12/06/14 to 03/21/15
21 games – 12/29/11 to 03/03/12
21 games – 12/28/12 to 03/08/13
21 games – 12/20/15 to 03/31/16
17 games – 01/10/09 to 03/19/09
14 games - 01/05/19 to present
14 games – 12/12/10 to 01/17/11

Alexis Poole had 21 points and 11 rebounds for Kennesaw State, while Kamiyah Street added 16 points, six rebounds and four steals. Both players played all 40 minutes. Conversely, Ulel scored her 24 points in 23 minutes.

Next Up
FGCU will return to action in one week when it travels north to Jacksonville for a 2 p.m. matchup against the Dolphins on March 2. They will then close the regular season at home against Stetson on Tuesday, March 5 at 7 p.m.

Notes
FGCU entered the game ranked No. 2 in the CollegeInsider.com mid-major poll and No. 5 in the espnW mid-major poll.

Prior to the game, the team's four seniors - Jewett-Giles, Zderadicka, Washington and Brittany Johnson (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North HS) - were honored as part of senior night.
 
The Eagles are now just two wins shy of the program's ninth-straight 25-win season. They previously captured its 15th-straight 20-win season.

Saturday night represented FGCU's 200th all-time regular season game in ASUN play, including the 100th at home. They are 184-16 (.920) and 98-2 (.980), respectively, in those games.

After producing its worst two-game performance in program history from 3-point range percentage wise (9-for-64, .141), FGCU has bounced back to shoot 25-for-69 (.362) over the past two contests.

The Eagles remain one of just seven among 351 teams across 32 conferences in NCAA Division-I play to have an undefeated record in league play. The others include: UConn, NC A&T, Baylor, Mercer, Rice and Quinnipiac.

Kennesaw State entered the game having won two straight and three of its past four for the first time since the 2016-17 season. They are 0-for-11 on the road this year now.

FGCU is now 24-2 all-time against Kennesaw State, which includes 18 straight victories. The last loss in the series for the Eagles came Feb. 14, 2011 on the road, and they're 12-0 against the Owls in Alico Arena.
 
The Green and Blue have outscored its opponents 832-475 in ASUN play over the first three quarters. Thus, they're averaging a 59-33 lead entering the fourth quarter. On the flip side, they only hold a 12-point total advantage in the fourth quarter and were outscored 17-14 by the Owls in Saturday.

FGCU is 89-1 over its past 90 ASUN regular season home games dating back to Jan. 10, 2009.
 
Ulel has now produced 221 points in 14 ASUN games this season - 101 more than she did all of last year in the same number of games. Her 16.9 PPG average at home this season is tied with Sarah Hansen (2012-13) for the third-best in program history. She also moved into eighth-place in career 3-point field goals made in Alico Arena with 75. Her 15.6 PPG average overall this year is the second-best in the Division-I era behind Hansen, who averaged 16.3 over 34 games in 2012-13.

Adderly is now 18 rebounds shy of surpassing Sarah Hansen (463, 2010-14) for the most rebounds in Alico Arena history. With her six points against Kennesaw State, she has reached 300 points at home. She is also 15 rebounds away from joining Hansen as one of only two players in program history with at least 800 in a career.
 
#PLAY4KAY PLEDGE WITH COACH SMESKO
Join Coach Smesko and pledge to help FGCU support the #Play4Kay Foundation! You can make a difference by pledging to make a donation for every made Green and Blue free throw in February, and 100 percent of the funds go to the #Play4Kay Foundation. Visit here to donate today!

ASUN CHAMPIONSHIP TICKET RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS
The FGCU ticket office is still accepting reservations from season ticket holders for potential ASUN Championship games hosted in Alico Arena.  If you're a season ticket holder and interested in reserving your current seats, upgrading your seat location or requesting additional seats, fill out and return the form here. Every effort will be made to place your tournament tickets in the same location as your season tickets. Women's home quarterfinal tickets went on sale to the general public at 9 a.m. on Thursday, February 21.
 
For more information, contact the FGCU Ticket office by phone at 239-590-7145 or by email at tickets@fgcu.edu.

WE'VE GOT YOUR SEAT
Experience FGCU basketball this season. The following ticket opportunities are on sale now:
Group Sales
Bring your group of 20 or more to an FGCU men's or women's basketball game. All group tickets include an FGCU hat ($15 value), a $5 game day discount at The Boardwalk restaurant, in-game group recognition and more. For more information on group outings, click HERE or call 239-590-7145.
Single Game Tickets
Single game tickets are available for all remaining home games. Discounts are available for current or former Military and Youth ages 3-15. Purchase online HERE or call 239-590-7145.
 
COACH SMESKO
FGCU head coach Karl Smesko led the 2017-18 Eagles to another historic season. The Green and Blue finished 31-5 overall and 13-1 in ASUN play, capturing the program's eighth ASUN regular season championship and fifth ASUN tournament championship. The team finished the season ranked 25th in the final USA Today Coaches Poll, recaptured the NCAA record for most 3-point field goals made in a season with 431 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in seven seasons, where the Eagles knocked off 5th-seeded and No. 15 ranked Missouri in the opening round. It was the team's second tournament win over the past three appearances. Over the course of the season, FGCU knocked off three ranked teams - No. 15 Missouri, No. 20 Kentucky and No. 21 DePaul.
 
Over the past four seasons, Smesko has guided FGCU to three 30 plus win seasons while recording a 121-23 (.840) record overall. The now eight-time ASUN Coach of the Year rallied the 2016-17 team to its seventh straight 25-win campaign, culminating in an ASUN tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance. In 2015-16, he was named the espnW mid-major coach of the year following a run that witnessed the Eagles claim a WNIT runner-up finish and a Division-I program best ever 33-6 record. In 2014-15, the team achieved its first-ever top-25 ranking and made another trip to the NCAA Tournament, where the Eagles earned a No. 7 seed and won the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament game, toppling No. 10 seed Oklahoma State.
 
Smesko has guided the Eagles to 15-straight 20-win seasons (including 2018-19) and eight-straight 25-win seasons. He maintains a record of 519-118 (.815) overall in his career, including a 184-16 (.920) mark in ASUN play. Over the past seven + seasons, he has guided FGCU to a 122-4 (.968) 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. Entering 2018-19, he ranked 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. Over the past year, first-year NCAA Division-I head coaches Nancy Fahey (Illinois) and Bart Brooks (Belmont) pushed the list to six.
 
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 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 contribute, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help.
 
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.
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Players Mentioned

Rosemarie Julien

#32 Rosemarie Julien

F
5' 11"
Senior
Keri Jewett-Giles

#3 Keri Jewett-Giles

G
5' 6"
Redshirt Junior
Nasrin Ulel

#31 Nasrin Ulel

G/F
5' 9"
Junior
Davion Wingate

#0 Davion Wingate

G
5' 6"
Redshirt Junior
Lisa Zderadicka

#5 Lisa Zderadicka

G
5' 6"
Redshirt Senior
Destiny Washington

#22 Destiny Washington

G/F
5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
Brittany Johnson

#14 Brittany Johnson

G
5' 11"
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Rosemarie Julien

#32 Rosemarie Julien

5' 11"
Senior
F
Keri Jewett-Giles

#3 Keri Jewett-Giles

5' 6"
Redshirt Junior
G
Nasrin Ulel

#31 Nasrin Ulel

5' 9"
Junior
G/F
Davion Wingate

#0 Davion Wingate

5' 6"
Redshirt Junior
G
Lisa Zderadicka

#5 Lisa Zderadicka

5' 6"
Redshirt Senior
G
Destiny Washington

#22 Destiny Washington

5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
G/F
Brittany Johnson

#14 Brittany Johnson

5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
G