ATLANTA --- The ASUN has adjusted the 2020-21 conference schedule for women's basketball to a single-site model with FGCU opening conference play Jan. 1 on the road at North Alabama. The Eagles will then stay on the road to meet North Alabama again two days later before returning home the following weekend.
 
The intent of the switch is to help cut down on travel and cost due to CoVID by having teams play two games over a three-day stretch against the same team in the same location. Each team will have the same number of home dates, but they'll be against four opponents instead of eight. Furthermore, each weekend series will feature games on Fridays and Sundays.
 
"I know our players are excited," FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. "We have a lot to work on between now and then, but we will keep making progress."
 
The 16-game schedule will feature conference newcomer, Bellarmine University, replacing NJIT as the Highlanders departed the ASUN over the summer. The Green and Blue will meet the Knights for the first time Jan. 15 and 17 in Louisville, which is interestingly also the hometown of FGCU legend China Dow.

"This scheduling model gives our teams and student-athletes the greatest chance to complete a full slate of conference games," ASUN Commissioner Ted Gumbart said. "The health and safety of our student-athletes and our university communities remain at the forefront of all our decisions on athletic competition. We recognize the possibility of a competitive interruption due to the pandemic, but this plan provides the greatest opportunity for our teams to compete safely."
 
Liberty, which was scheduled to meet FGCU in last year's ASUN championship game for the second-consecutive season, will have to play in Fort Myers twice – Jan. 8 and 10. The Eagles, which will also host Lipscomb and Kennesaw State, conclude the regular season with a weekend series vs North Florida on Feb. 26 and 28.
 
More info on the non-conference schedule, as well as the ASUN tournament, will be released as the information becomes finalized.
 
Season tickets are on-sale now by calling 866-FGCU-TIX (866-342-8849) or by visiting www.FGCUTickets.com. Seating in Alico Arena will be limited during the season under COVID-19 safety guidelines which will include social distancing and mandatory mask wearing. All season ticket purchase will include a risk-free guarantee to give fans peace of mind as well.
 
Here's the full schedule, with home games marked in bold.
 
Friday, Jan. 1 – at North Alabama
Sunday, Jan. 3 – at North Alabama
Friday, Jan. 8 – vs Liberty, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 10 – vs Liberty, 2 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 15 – at Bellarmine
Sunday, Jan. 17 – at Bellarmine
Friday, Jan. 22 – vs Lipscomb, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 24 – vs Lipscomb, 2 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 5 – at Stetson
Sunday, Feb. 7 – at Stetson
Friday, Feb. 12 – vs Kennesaw State, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 14 – vs Kennesaw State, 2 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 19 – at Jacksonville
Sunday, Feb. 21 – at Jacksonville
Friday, Feb. 26 – vs North Florida, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 28 – vs North Florida, 2 p.m.
 
For complete coverage of the women's basketball program, follow the Eagles on Twitter and Instagram at @FGCU_WBB, on Facebook at /fgcuwbb and online at www.FGCUathletics.com. You can also sign-up to have news on FGCU women's basketball or other programs delivered directly to your inbox by visiting www.fgcuathletics.com/email.
 
SUSTAINING FLIGHT 
To help offset the financial impact of COVID-19, FGCU Athletics has launched the Sustaining Flight Fundraiser and Auction. The fundraising campaign will help mitigate operational revenue loss and the additional expenses incurred as a result of COVID-19 protocols. All funds raised during the campaign will go to support areas that directly impact student-athletes.
 
In lieu of hosting the annual Night at the Nest gala this year, one of FGCU's most successful fundraising events, the department will be hosting a virtual, online auction from Monday, Nov. 30 through Friday, Dec. 4. Fans and supporters will be able to bid on exclusive memorabilia, trip packages, unique event experiences and more. For more information, visit www.fgcuathletics.com/sustainingflight. 
 
E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence. Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!
 
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 maintains a record of 554-122 (.820) overall in his career (third highest winning percentage among active Division I coaches behind only UConn's Geno Auriemma and Baylor's Kim Mulkey), including a 201-17 (.922) mark in ASUN regular season play and a 24-2 (.923) record in ASUN tournament play. Over the past nine seasons, including this year, he has guided FGCU to a 137-5 (.975) record in conference play with five undefeated seasons. The 10-time ASUN Coach of the Year has guided the Green and Blue to four 30-plus win seasons over the past six years while compiling a 179-31 (.852) record. He has also guided the program to 16 consecutive 20-win seasons and 10-straight 25-win seasons.
 
#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 82 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 13 seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just nine seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 38 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including women's basketball (No. 24, 2019-20) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as three of the most recent. 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 3.46 GPA in the classroom in the spring 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 22 consecutive semesters. The 2019 Fall and 2020 Spring semesters each saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher team GPA. 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--