FGCU Women's Basketball Information
Game 1	Florida Memorial (3-2) at FGCU (0-0)
Date | Time	Wednesday, Nov. 25 | 2:30 p.m.
Location	Fort Myers, Fla. | Alico Arena
Tickets	FGCU Ticket Office
Live Statistics	Stat Broadcast
TV	ESPN+ | Tom James (PxP), J. Webb Horton (Color)
Radio	n/a
Twitter	@FGCU_WBB
Instagram	@FGCU_WBB
Facebook	FGCU Women's Basketball

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The FGCU women's basketball team will begin the 19th season in program history against Florida Memorial at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday inside Alico Arena. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and fans are encouraged to wear blue.
 
Seating inside Alico Arena will be limited to 1,300 people during the season under COVID-19 safety guidelines which will include social distancing and mandatory mask wearing. Tickets can be found by visiting FGCUtickets.com or by calling 866-FGCU-TIX (866-342-8849).

FGCU enters this year with the most unique team makeup in program history as the Eagles lost their top seven scorers from last year's team due to graduation, a number that has never happened previously in program history. Additionally, their five returners accounted for just 9.1 percent of the team's scoring last year, which means they lost over 90 percent of last year's production.
 
Replacing that production will come from a variety of sources - high-profile transfers, talented freshmen and increased minutes/production from returners.
 
In the offseason, the Green and Blue added one of the best transfer classes in program history - Andrea Cecil (BGSU), Aaliyah Stanley (Eastern Michigan), Kierstan Bell (Ohio State) and Tishara Morehouse (Western Nebraska C.C.). Cecil is a graduate transfer who averaged 15.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest in her final season at BGSU en route to Third Team All-MAC recognition, while Stanley is a true sophomore who averaged 12.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and over one assist and steal per game for Eastern Michigan as a rookie last year. She received an immediate eligibility waiver from the NCAA to play this year. Morehouse, meanwhile, averaged 21 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists for her JUCO last year en route to NJCAA First Team All-American recognition.
 
The team's wild card is Bell, who is still awaiting an official decision from the NCAA on a transfer waiver. The highest rated recruit in program history averaged 10.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 steals and nearly one block per game as a freshman at Ohio State last year. She was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and made the conference's all-freshmen team after securing three freshman of the week awards during the season. Should Bell become eligible, it would give FGCU three proven NCAA Division I starters who have averaged double-digit scoring per game.
 
In terms of newcomers, the Eagles also added a trio of talented freshmen - Maddie Antenucci (Cincinnati, Ohio), Seneca Hackley (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Tomia Johnson (Aurora, Colo.). Should any of them happen to start on Wednesday, they would become just the fourth true freshmen in the Division I era to start the season opener for the Eagles, joining Tytionia Adderly (2016), Katie Meador (2012) and Courtney Chihil (2008).
 
Kierra Adams, who redshirted as a true freshman last year, will see the court for the first time this year along with five other returners - Tyra Cox, Alyssa Blair, Tanner Bryant, Emma List and Sheahen Dowling. Among those, Cox is the top returning scorer at 2.3 per game last year.
 
A SEASON TO REMEMBER
FGCU had arguably the best season in program history last year despite the CoVID-19 outbreak as the Eagles finished 30-3 overall and capturing the program's conference record-breaking 10th outright ASUN regular season title (in 12 seasons) before being named co-tournament champion along with Liberty, which allowed the Green and Blue to join FIU (1992-98) as the only two schools in ASUN history with four straight tournament titles.
 
In the non-conference portion of the schedule, FGCU knocked off defending national runner-up Notre Dame, No. 20 USF, reigning NCAA Sweet 16 participant South Dakota State, ACC power Duke and reigning NCAA Tournament participant, UCF. The Eagles stretched its streak of consecutive 25-win seasons to 10-straight and won 30-plus games for the fourth time in the past six seasons (joined only by UConn and Baylor).
 
Graduate senior Keri Jewett-Giles had a record-breaking campaign en route to breaking Sarah Hansen's single-season (16.6) and career scoring average (14.7) program records. The hometown guard was named a WBCA Honorable Mention All-American, ASUN Player of the Year, ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year and CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District while becoming a Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year semifinalist among other awards.
 
Tytionia Adderly became the program's all-time rebounding leader before finishing second in ASUN history with 1,185. She was the first player in conference history to compile at least 800 points, 1,000 rebounds, 300 assists and 200 steals in a career. Following the season, she earned her second-straight ASUN Defensive Player of the Year award and was named First Team All-ASUN.
 
Nasrin Ulel, who produced FGCU's highest-scoring two-game stretch all-time with 69 points combined vs JU and UNF in February, was named Second Team All-ASUN en route to finishing third in program history for career points (1,356). Davion Wingate had a career-best season by averaging 14.7 points per game. She broke FGCU's single-game scoring record with 38 in the ASUN quarterfinal win over Lipscomb and shattered the program's single-season field goal percentage record (.531) before finishing with 1,364 career points.
 
In all, FGCU produced four players with 1,000 career points as Ashli O'Neal also tallied 1,114 after finishing her graduate transfer season.
 
The Eagles won the program's 200th all-time ASUN regular season game on Feb. 22 vs NJIT, notched 16 straight wins overall at one point and completed a 42-game ASUN regular season winning streak. FGCU led the nation in 3-point field goals made per game (12.0), 3-point field goals made (397) and 3-point field goals attempted (1,155). They also led the country in fewest turnovers per game and turnover margin.
 
The Eagles appeared in the USA Today Coaches Poll a program-record 10 times during the season, topping the six appearances by the 2014-15 team. Last year's squad also established a new standard for consecutive poll appearances with eight.
 
PROFESSIONAL STANDARD
Last year's team has five players currently playing professionally overseas - Keri Jewett-Giles (Wetterbygden/Sweden), Nasrin Ulel (Uniao Sportiva/Portugal), Tytionia Adderly (Fribourg/Switzerland), Anja Marinkovic (Kraljevo/Serbia) and Davion Wingate (Kraljevo/Serbia). Three others from previous years who are also playing include: Rosemarie Julien (RC Celta/Spain), Anthi Chatzigiakoumi (AEO Proteas Voulas/Greece) and Lisa Zderadicka (BK Duchess/Austria).
 
SEASON OPENERS
FGCU has compiled a 13-5 record all-time in season openers, including a 9-4 record in the Division I era. This is the first time the Eagles have opened at home since 2017 when the Green and Blue took down Illinois 85-61 inside Alico Arena.
 

Date	Opponent	Location	Result
11/5/19	Florida International	Miami, Fla.	W, 100-54
11/9/18	South Dakota State	Brookings, S.D.	L, 62-80
11/12/17	Illinois	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 85-61
11/11/16	Quinnipiac	Hamden, Conn.	L, 56-66
11/13/15	North Carolina A&T	Greensboro, N.C.	W, 60-36
11/14/14	George Washington	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 88-75
11/8/13	Florida International	Miami, Fla.	W, 75-55
11/10/12	Warner	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 100-31
11/11/11	Seton Hall	South Orange, N.J.	L, 51-57
11/12/10	Seton Hall	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 64-57
11/13/09	UTEP	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 66-54
11/14/08	Florida	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 88-86
11/9/07	No. 19/19 Florida State	Fort Myers, Fla.	L, 53-93
11/16/06	West Florida	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 69-57
11/19/05	Puerto Rico Bayamon	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 107-53
11/15/04	Saint Leo	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 90-69
11/15/03	Lake Superior State	Saint Leo, Fla.	L, 49-70
11/22/02	No. 18 Ohio Dominican	Estero, Fla.	W, 75-58

 
HOME OPENERS
In terms of home openers, FGCU is 16-2 all-time, including an 11-2 record in the Division I era. That includes a four-game winning streak, and there are three wins over Power 5 teams within those 16 victories - Illinois (2017), Michigan State (2011) and Florida (2008).
 

Date	Opponent	Location	Result
11/7/19	Webber International	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 99-48
11/12/18	Florida Memorial	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 99-68
11/12/17	Illinois	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 85-61
11/15/16	Florida International	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 89-42
11/17/15	Florida Atlantic	Fort Myers, Fla.	L, 55-62
11/14/14	George Washington	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 88-75
11/12/13	Bethune-Cookman	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 71-38
11/10/12	Warner	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 100-31
11/19/11	Michigan State	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 59-58
11/12/10	Seton Hall	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 64-57
11/13/09	UTEP	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 66-54
11/14/08	Florida	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 88-86
11/9/07	No. 19/19 Florida State	Fort Myers, Fla.	L, 53-93
11/16/06	West Florida	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 69-57
11/19/05	Puerto Rico Bayamon	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 107-53
11/15/04	Saint Leo	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 90-69
11/19/03	Puerto Rico Mayaquez	Fort Myers, Fla.	W, 91-32
11/22/02	No. 18 Ohio Dominican	Estero, Fla.	W, 75-58

 
SERIES HISTORY
The Green and Blue are 12-0 all-time against Florida Memorial, including a 7-0 record at home dating back to the first meeting between the two teams on Nov. 26, 2002. This is just the fourth meeting of FGCU's Division I era with the previous three coming in each of the past three seasons.
 
APPROACHING 3-POINT MILESTONE INSIDE ALICO ARENA
FGCU is 2,848-for-8,146 (.350) from the 3-point line inside Alico Arena all-time, putting the Eagles just 152 makes shy of reaching the 3,000 milestone. The Green and Blue have made at least that many in each of the past seven seasons at home.
 

Year	Made	Att.	Pct.
2002-03	98	241	0.407
2003-04	59	207	0.285
2004-05	128	361	0.355
2005-06	147	455	0.323
2006-07	229	609	0.376
2007-08	131	365	0.359
2008-09	158	390	0.405
2009-10	154	418	0.368
2010-11	217	575	0.377
2011-12	158	415	0.381
2012-13	143	458	0.312
2013-14	167	470	0.355
2014-15	156	444	0.351
2015-16	215	676	0.318
2016-17	176	551	0.319
2017-18	216	581	0.372
2018-19	200	585	0.342
2019-20	194	586	0.331
Totals	2,848	8,146	0.350

 
LEGENDARY LEADER
On pace to reach 600 career wins faster than legendary coaches such as Pat Summitt and Tara VanDerveer, FGCU head coach Karl Smesko has compiled a 554-122 record (.820) in his career, which ranks him as the third-winningest active Division I head coach behind Geno Auriemma (1,091-142, .885) and Kim Mulkey (604-101, .857). Furthermore, he passed VanDerveer (1,094-253, .812) in 2017-18 to become the fifth-winningest Division I head coach of all-time – behind Auriemma, Leon Barmore (576-87, .869), Mulkey and Summit (1,098-208, .841). If that isn't enough, he is the 10th-winningest active head coach across all divisions, as well as the 12th-winningest such coach all-time.
 
FGCU APPROACHING 500 ALL-TIME WINS
The Eagles enter the 2020-21 season with a 493-95 (.838) record, just seven victories away from the 500-win milestone as a program.
 
100th win - Nov. 18, 2006 vs Puerto Rico Rio Piedras (106-36)
200th win - Feb. 11, 2010 vs Jacksonville (63-55)
300th win - Jan. 23, 2014 vs Jacksonville (56-49)
400th win - Feb. 18, 2017 vs USC Upstate (80-50)
500th win - ?
 
BEST IN NCAA HISTORY?
Head coach Karl Smesko has FGCU on pace to shatter the NCAA's all-time Division I winning percentage record by the end of the 2020-21 season as his team is one of only two in the nation along with Tennessee (.801) with at least an .800 all-time winning percentage. In fact, FGCU is 493-95 (.838) since the program's inception in 2002-03, which is easily the best winning percentage in the nation and also ahead of third-place UConn (.795), but the NCAA requires at least 10 years as a Division I program, and FGCU's four reclassification years (2007-11) do not count towards the 10-year minimum. Thus, Smesko and the Green and Blue are well on their way to becoming the NCAA's all-time winning percentage leader by the end of this season.
 
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Over the past six seasons, FGCU has produced 179 wins, which is the most among all mid-majors and seventh-most among any Division I program – behind UConn (212), Baylor (200), Mississippi State (186), Notre Dame (185), South Carolina (184) and Maryland (180). In fact, it puts them ahead of schools such as Louisville (178), Stanford (167), Oregon State (165) and Oregon (157). On top of that, the program is one of only five in the nation at the Division I level with four 30-win seasons during that stretch – joining UConn, Baylor, Notre Dame and South Carolina.
 
SUSTAINED SUCCESS
The Eagles have registered a level of sustained success matched by only three other Division I schools as Coach Smesko has guided the Eagles to 10 straight 25-win seasons - an accomplishment only achieved by UConn and Baylor. FGCU has also recorded 16-straight 20-win seasons dating back to 2004-05.
 
RAINING THREES LEGACY
At FGCU, Smesko has turned FGCU into one of the premier 3-point shooting teams in the nation as his teams have made a combined 5,405-for-15,614 (.346) from long range, or 9.2 per game, over his 18 years. In fact, the team has made at least one 3-point field goal in 475 straight games and went without at least one made in only one game in program history – Feb. 21, 2006 vs Lynn University (0-for-11). This past season, the Eagles led the nation in 3-point field goals made (397), 3-point field goals attempted (1,155) and 3-point field goals per game (12.0). In 2017-18, the Green and Blue made an NCAA Division I single season record 431 3-pointers, which remains a record entering this season.

Here is a look at how the Eagles have done each year from the 3-point line.
 

Year	Made	Att.	Pct.
2002-03	212	535	.396
2003-04	118	406	.291
2004-05	253	722	.350
2005-06	242	747	.324
2006-07	337	891	.378
2007-08	255	734	.347
2008-09	296	763	.388
2009-10	317	876	.362
2010-11	350	940	.372
2011-12	342	925	.370
2012-13	319	974	.328
2013-14	347	1,000	.347
2014-15	327	928	.352
2015-16	372	1,194	.312
2016-17	338	1,058	.319
2017-18	431	1,190	.362
2018-19	364	1,111	.328
2019-20	397	1,155	.344
TOTALS	5,405	15,614	.346

 
FGCU has also made at least 10 or more 3-point field goals in a single game 280 times, including a single-season record 25 times in 2017-18. They have at least 15 games with at least 10 or more in each of the past 12 seasons.
 

Year	#
2002-03	6
2003-04	1
2004-05	11
2005-06	8
2006-07	18
2007-08	9
2008-09	15
2009-10	17
2010-11	18
2011-12	19
2012-13	15
2013-14	18
2014-15	20
2015-16	19
2016-17	18
2017-18	25
2018-19	20
2019-20	23
TOTAL	280

 
On top of that, the 2017-18 team produced three of the program's seven games all-time with at least 20 or more, and the Eagles have added four games with 19 over the past two seasons. The program's single-game record of 22 was initially set on Jan. 12, 2013 in a 97-60 win over ETSU (22-for-43) on the road, and the 2017-18 team tied the mark at Abilene Christian (22-for-45) on Dec. 3 and at home against Lipscomb (22-for-44) on March 7. The latter represents the program's postseason mark, and they own three of the top seven single-game totals in NCAA Division I history entering the 2020-21 season. In fact, there has been only 30 times since 1988 that an NCAA Division I team had made at least 20 3-point field goals in a game, and FGCU owns seven of those, or 23.3 percent.
 
In 2019-20, FGCU became the first team in NCAA Division I women's basketball history to record five straight seasons with at least 1,000 3-point field goal attempts. Sacramento State achieved the yearly benchmark over four straight seasons from 2013-17, and DePaul will also carry a three-year streak into this year. The 2013-14 FGCU squad joined Sacramento State as the first two teams to attempt 1,000 in a season.

Prior to breaking the single-season record for made 3-point field goals in 2017-18, FGCU claimed a then single-season NCAA record 342 in 2011-12, which was the first year they were eligible for NCAA statistical championships. Had they been eligible in 2010-11, they also would have led the nation with 350 – 26 more than the second-place team. The 2009-10 team would have finished second. In fact, over the past nine years, the Green and Blue have finished among the nation's top five in made 3-point field goals every year, including three first-place finishes.
 

Year	Total	Finish
2011-12	342	1st
2012-13	319	3rd
2013-14	347	2nd
2014-15	327	5th
2015-16	372	2nd
2016-17	338	3rd
2017-18	431	1st
2018-19	364	4th
2019-20	397	1st

 
In addition to the aforementioned record, the 2011-12 team also set a then NCAA single season record for most 3-point field goals made per game at 10.7, and they followed it up in 2012-13 by making 9.4 per game, which was the most in the nation. In 2017-18, FGCU joined DePaul as the first two teams to eclipse 400 made 3-point field goals in a season in NCAA Division I history, and they remain the only two entering this year after last year's Green and Blue squad fell just three shy in a CoVID-19 shortened season. In fact, the Eagles stood out in the NCAA's deepest 3-point shooting year as eight teams averaged 10 or more made per game in 2017-18, which was equal to the total from the previous two seasons combined and the same as 2009-15 combined. Six teams reached the milestone in 2018-19 and four more followed last year. Among the 13 teams to average at least 10 or more made per game over a single season, FGCU is one of just three to do it at least four times – joining Sacramento State and Idaho.

Here's a year-by-year look at where FGCU finished nationally in 3-point field goals per game.
 

Season	Avg.	Finish
2019-20	12.0	1st
2018-19	11.0	2nd
2017-18	12.0	2nd
2016-17	9.7	5th
2015-16	9.5	T-6th
2014-15	9.6	3rd
2013-14	10.2	2nd
2012-13	9.4	1st
2011-12	10.7	1st

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--