FORT MYERS, Fla. - The FGCU women's basketball program has added several matchups to its non-conference schedule as the Eagles will take on UCF, Temple and FIU.
The Green and Blue will host Temple on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. in what is a return matchup of last year's road game that FGCU won 93-67. Meanwhile, after defeating UCF 72-50 at home last year, the Eagles will meet the Knights on the road Sunday, Dec. 13 with a time still be worked out. Later, the team will travel to FIU to play the Panthers on Dec. 20. The two programs will then meet again on either the 21st or 22nd.
"We have a very challenging schedule," FGCU head coach
Karl Smesko said. "We are going to have to grow a lot as a team the next few weeks."
In addition to those three games, FGCU will also host a pair of games against non-Division I competition - Ave Maria on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. and Webber International on Thursday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.
Those six games push the non-conference slate to nine total contests as the Gulf Coast Showcase's #BeachBubble was announced earlier this week.
Updated non-conference schedule
#Nov. 27 - vs Missouri State, 5:30 p.m.
#Nov. 28 - vs Arkansas, 2:30 p.m.
#Nov. 29 - vs Davidson, 11:30 a.m.
Dec. 1 - vs Ave Maria, 7 p.m.
Dec. 6 - vs Temple, 2 p.m.
Dec. 13 - @UCF
Dec. 17 - vs Webber International, 7 p.m.
Dec. 20 - @FIU
Dec. 21 or 22 - @FIU
#Gulf Coast Showcase Beach Bubble (no attendance from general public)
Note: The games against Ave Maria, Temple and Webber International will be part of the home season ticket package. The games Nov. 27-29 will not be part of that package.
FGCU, which lost 90.6 percent of their scoring last year, will reload with a solid group of newcomers as well as some returners who will see increased playing time after sitting behind several eventual professional players last year.
Andrea Cecil, a graduate transfer from Bowling Green State University, will be expected to fill a key spot in the lineup. The Preseason All-ASUN selection was named Third Team All-MAC while averaging 15.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in her most recent season with the Falcons. Another key newcomer will be JUCO transfer
Tishara Morehouse, who averaged 21 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game with Western Nebraska Community College last year en route to NJCAA First Team All-American recognition. The incoming class also includes a pair awaiting decisions on transfer waivers from the NCAA -
Aaliyah Stanley (Eastern Michigan) and
Kierstan Bell (Ohio State). Bell is the highest-rated recruit in program history after being ranked a top-10 national player one year ago out of high school.
FGCU's talented freshmen class includes a trio of guards in
Tomia Johnson (Aurora, Colo.),
Maddie Antenucci (Cincinnati, Ohio) and
Seneca Hackley (Colorado Springs, Colo.).
Tyra Cox, who averaged 2.3 points last year, is the team's top returning scorer, while
Emma List has had a solid preseason after averaging 1.5 points in her first season with the Green and Blue last year.
Kierra Adams will also make her FGCU debut after redshirting her first collegiate season last year.
"Kiki has really taken a big step forward this year and looks like somebody who will contribute a great deal," Smesko said. "Emma has (also) taken a huge step forward. She's playing at a really high-level, an all-conference level, in practice."
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.
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