Schedule gets tougher as @FGCU_WBB adds UCF, announces Duke date

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The FGCU women's basketball program has finalized a home-and-home series with UCF and determined a date for its home matchup against Duke.

The Eagles and UCF, who both made the NCAA Tournament last year, will meet inside Alico Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. with the return date in Orlando happening in the 2020-21 season at a date and time TBD.

"UCF is a very good program," FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. "They are an NCAA Tournament team, and this is a great opportunity for us to play quality competition."

The Knights finished 26-7 last year and advanced to the NCAA Tournament before falling to No. 5 Arizona State in the opening round. They finished as the runner-up in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) tournament behind UConn and have won 20 plus games in each of the past three years.

Meanwhile, FGCU and Duke will square off on Sunday, Dec. 29 in Fort Myers, although a time is still being worked out. The Green and Blue fell 57-41 in Durham last year in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

Thus, next year's schedule will feature at least three meetings with reigning NCAA Tournament teams - UCF, Notre Dame (national runner-up) and South Dakota State (Sweet 16). The team will also face WNIT participants, USF and Houston, while hosting two Power 5 schools - Duke and LSU.

The Eagles could potentially add up to four more non-conference dates to the schedule.

UCF Series History
FGCU and UCF have met four times previously with the Eagles owning a 3-1 record. In the very first matchup, current assistant coach Shannon Murphy led four players in double figures with a game-high 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting to propel the Eagles to an 81-75 win on Dec. 9, 2007.

12/09/07 @ UCF - W 81-75
12/07/08 vs UCF - W 77-64
12/08/11 @ UCF - W 75-36
12/22/12 vs UCF - L 60-53

FGCU's Non-Conference Schedule
Nov. 5 - @ Florida International
Nov. 13 - vs UCF
Nov. 22 - vs Saint Francis (FSW)
Nov. 28 - vs Notre Dame (Riviera Maya, Mexico)
Nov. 29 - vs South Florida (Riviera Maya, Mexico)
Nov. 30 - vs South Dakota State (Riviera Maya, Mexico)
Dec. 4 - @ Houston
Dec. 9 - vs Florida Memorial
Dec. 17 - vs Central Connecticut State
Dec. 19 - vs LSU
Dec. 29 - vs Duke

BASKETBALL SEASON TICKET INFORMATION
FGCU basketball encourages fans to become a season ticket holder by getting on the Season Ticket Priority List*. Join by contacting an FGCU Ticket Office representative at 239-590-7145 or by visiting Alico Arena Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Join the 2019-20 Season Ticket Priority List

*The Season Ticket Priority List will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to limited availability, Priority Level 1 and 2 cannot be guaranteed for new purchasers. Seating location availability for new ticket packages will depend on renewals and upgrades of current season ticket holders. Eagles Club membership may be required for certain seats, with giving levels utilized for access to better locations.

The season-ticket renewal deadline has passed, however renewal orders are still being accepted during the reseating process. Tickets may be renewed by filling out the form below. Season ticket holders who renew their seats and refer new purchasers will also be eligible for account credits. Season tickets may also be renewed by phone at 239-590-7145 or in person at Alico Arena Monday-Friday between 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Season Ticket Renewal Form

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 524-119 (.815) 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 78 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--

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