FORT MYERS, Fla. - Kierstan Bell became the first player in program history to record a 20-point, 20-rebound performance as the FGCU women's basketball team (2-2) topped Davidson 84-61 on the final day of the Gulf Coast Showcase's Beach Bubble on Sunday inside Alico Arena.
 
Bell (Alliance, Ohio/Canton McKinley HS/Ohio State), who had been waiting on a transfer waiver from the NCAA, totaled 24 points, 20 rebounds, three blocks, three assists and two steals over 29 minutes. She finished 11-for-19 from the field while also breaking the Gulf Coast Showcase's single-game rebounding record. She tallied just the third game in FGCU history with at least 20 rebounds, as well, joining Ty Adderly and Robyn Swain, who each had 21. On top of all that, she set new career-highs at the NCAA level in points, rebounds, field goals made and field goal attempts.

"One thing about Kierstan is, obviously she's an extraordinary athlete, but her basketball IQ and understanding of the game is really off the charts," FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. "Her potential is amazing because she picks up things so quickly and is such a good learner. She really pays attention to detail and is able to make corrections. So when you can combine her skill set and athleticism with that, you're talking about a very special talent. I really think she has the ability to be a first-round WNBA pick. That's how good she is. But she realizes she has to work on things, and she's going about it with that understanding, and she wants to be really good. I'm looking forward to seeing it."

It wasn't just Bell who poured it in offensively for FGCU as Tishara Morehouse (19 points, 3 assists), Alyssa Blair (15 points, 3 assists, 3 steals), Andrea Cecil (12 points, 7 rebounds) and Emma List (11 points, 10 assists) also performed well. In fact, List (Colorado Springs, Colo./Discovery Canyon Campus/Albany) registered just the 10th game in the program's Division I era with 10+ assists in a game, coming within two of the single-game record held by Courtney Chihil, DyTiesha Dunson and Brittany Kennedy. List's assist and 3-point field goal (3) totals are new career-highs, as well.
 
As a team, FGCU shot 17-for-48 (.354) from 3-point range, led by five from Blair (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie HS), who has combined to shoot 7-for-11 from long distance over the past two games. She set new career-highs on Sunday for points (15), 3-point field goals made (5) and 3-point field goals attempted (8). Cecil (Oak Harbor, Ohio/Oak Harbor HS/Bowling Green) went 4-for-14 from long distance, falling just two shy of matching the most attempts in a single-game in the program's Division I era.

"I thought it was an excellent game," Smesko said. "We played a really good team. We had a lot of energy at the start of the game. TK really got us going early, attacking the rim and knocking down threes. Her energy led us. Getting Kierstan able to play today (was big). She obviously was exceptional. There's so many who made positive contributions to help us win. One who really stood out was Alyssa (Blair). I thought she really defended hard and knocked down big shots for us. The second half was a little more of a struggle for us. We didn't defend quite as well as we would have liked. Fortunately, we made some big shots in the fourth quarter to help close it out."
 
The game got started with seven straight points from Morehouse, who was named FGCU's representative on the all-tournament team. Bell followed with a layup for her first points in the Green and Blue to give the Eagles a 9-0 lead. Davidson answered with five straight, but FGCU reeled off the next 10 points to lead 19-5. List then found a cutting Bell for a layup to finish the quarter and give the Eagles a 24-9 lead.
 
A 3-pointer from Blair with 7:21 left in the half gave FGCU a 20-point lead for the first time. A 3-pointer from Cecil with 3:14 left and a layup from Bell with 10 seconds remaining in the half each pushed the margin to 24. Davidson was able to trim its deficit down toward the end of the third quarter and scored the first five points of the fourth to pull within 11 with 7:34 remaining. Blair then buried a 3-pointer, spurring a 7-0 run, and Bell added seven points down the stretch before securing her 20th rebound with just over two minutes left.
 
With today's victory, FGCU is now 495-97 (.836) all-time in women's basketball, putting the program just five wins away from the 500-win milestone. On top of that, they are now 2,892-for-8,315 (.348) all-time from 3-point range in Alico Arena as they approach the 3,000-made milestone. On Sunday, the team tallied the program's 283rd game all-time with 10+ made 3-pointers.
 
The Eagles will be back in action next Sunday at 2 p.m. against Temple in what will be a white out. The previously scheduled games on Dec. 1 and Dec. 3 will not be played.
 
Gulf Coast Showcase Beach Bubble Schedule/Results
 
Friday, Nov. 27
No. 14 Arkansas d. Wake Forest 98-82
No. 11 Maryland d. Davidson 94-72
No. 24 Missouri State d. FGCU 74-49
 
Saturday, Nov. 28
Wake Forest d. Davidson 85-77
No. 14 Arkansas d. FGCU 86-80
No. 24 Missouri State d. No. 11 Maryland 81-72
 
Sunday, Nov. 29
FGCU d. Davidson 84-61
Wake Forest d. No. 24 Missouri State 68-59
No. 11 Maryland d. No. 14 Arkansas 115-96

2020 Gulf Coast Showcase Beach Bubble All-Tournament Team
MVP - Katie Benzan (Maryland)
Brice Calip (Missouri State)
Chelsea Dungee (Arkansas)
TK Morehouse (FGCU)
Ivana Raca (Wake Forest)
Angel Reese (Maryland)

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 556-124 (.818) 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--