FORT MYERS, Fla. - Maddie Antenucci poured in a game-high 18 points, along with five rebounds and three assists, in her collegiate debut to lead the FGCU women's basketball team to an 86-40 win over Florida Memorial in the season opener on Wednesday inside Alico Arena.
 
With the win, which featured six players reach double-digit scoring totals, FGCU is now 14-5 all-time in season openers, as well as 17-2 in home openers, including a streak of five straight victories. On top of that, the Eagles are now 13-0 all-time against Florida Memorial.
 
"It was good to get a game under our belt," FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. "We have a lot of new players, and a lot of them who are having their first college game. We haven't been able to scrimmage this year, so this was our first chance to execute a game plan and how we run things. It was definitely uneven, but there were some really good performances. We'll try to build from here."
 
Before she even scored her first points, which came via a steal and fast break layup under a minute into the game, Antenucci (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill HS) made history by becoming just the fourth true freshman to start her first collegiate game in the Green and Blue. She joined Tytionia Adderly (2016), Katie Meador (2012) and Courtney Chihil (2008). All of her points came in the first half, but with her total, she broke Adrianne McNally's record (16 vs West Florida in 2006) for most points scored by a freshman in her first game in program history.
 
Andrea Cecil, who competed in her first game with the Eagles as a graduate transfer, added 13 in her FGCU debut while chipping in five rebounds and three assists. Alyssa Blair and Sheahen Dowling (Chicago, Ill./Trinity HS) each contributed 12 points, while Blair (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie HS) led all players in rebounds (9) and steals (4). Tanner Bryant (Washington Court House, Ohio/Miami Trace HS) (11 points, six rebounds, four assists) and Emma List (10 points, six rebounds, two steals) also notched double-figures. For List (Colorado Springs, Colo./Discovery Canyon Campus HS/Albany), it's her career-high while wearing the Green and Blue.
 
Tomia Johnson (6) and Seneca Hackley (2) also reached the scoring column in their collegiate debuts, while Hackley (Colorado Springs, Colo./Saint Mary's HS) ripped down eight boards and dished four assists in 21 minutes. Johnson (Aurora, Colo./Grandview HS) added three steals, and Kierra Adams (Lawrenceville, Ga./Brookwood HS) totaled two points in her first game with FGCU after redshirting last season.
 
As a team, FGCU assisted on 20 of 29 field goals as five players had at least three apiece. Four players notched at least two steals and all but one player had at least three boards. All of Antenucci's five rebounds came on the offensive glass.
 
Milestone Watch
The Eagles made 10-for-41 from long distance, which is the 281st game in program history with double-figures as a team. Furthermore, FGCU has now made 2,858 3-pointers inside Alico Arena all-time as they approach the 3,000 milestone.
 
On top of that, FGCU improved its all-time record to 494-95 (.839), which puts the Eagles just six victories away from the 500 milestone.
 
Individually, Cecil (Oak Harbor, Ohio/Oak Harbor HS/Bowling Green) pushed her NCAA scoring total to 904 in her 91st career game.
 
Next Up
FGCU will be back in action this week in the Gulf Coast Showcase's Beach Bubble as the Eagles are set to host No. 24 Missouri State on Friday, No. 14 Arkansas on Saturday and Davidson on Sunday. All three games are closed to the general public.
 
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 555-122 (.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--