FGCU Women's Basketball Information
Game 5	Temple (0-1) at FGCU (2-2)
Date | Time	Sunday, Dec. 6 | 2 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)
Game Notes	FGCU (PDF) | Temple (PDF)
Twitter	@FGCU_WBB
Instagram	@FGCU_WBB
Facebook	FGCU Women's Basketball

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The FGCU women's basketball team (2-2) will be back in action on Sunday inside Alico Arena against Temple University at 2 p.m. as the Eagles are expected to be at full strength for the first time this season.
 
The two programs met for the first time last year as this will be the conclusion of a home-and-home series. Davion Wingate (31) and Keri Jewett-Giles (20) combined for 51 points in the 93-67 win for FGCU on Dec. 22 last season. Interestingly, Emma List (3 points, 4 rebounds) is the lone returning player for the Eagles who scored in that game, while Mia Davis (16) and Emani Mayo (2) are the lone such returners for Temple. Davis, however, is a key piece for the Owls as the senior forward was a USBWA Honorable Mention All-American, the Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Year and a top 10 finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award last year, among other honors. She has averaged nearly 19 PPG in each of the past two seasons, while pulling down 10.2 rebounds last year.
 
Temple opened up its season on Friday afternoon with a 90-72 loss to Villanova. Davis paced the Owls with 22 points and seven rebounds, while freshman Jasha Clinton (16 points) and grad transfer Jada Graves (11 points, five rebounds) also contributed. Mayo, who along with Davis are one of two returning scorers from last year's game, added seven points and seven rebounds.
 
GREEN AND BLUE NOTES

• Aaliyah Stanley, who missed most of the fourth quarter of Saturday's game vs No. 14 Arkansas after tallying 13 points, is expected to return on Sunday along with the team's top returning scorer from last year, Tyra Cox, who has been out with an injury over the first four games. That duo will join Kierstan Bell, who made her FGCU debut this past Sunday with 24 points, 20 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals - becoming the first player in program history to record a 20-20 performance. She is the only player in the country with such an outing so far this year, as well.
   
• Bell (Alliance, Ohio/Canton McKinley HS/Ohio State), who had been waiting on a transfer waiver from the NCAA, 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, 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 while registering her third career double-double, which includes her time at Ohio State.
   
• Tishara Morehouse, meanwhile, averaged 21.3 points, three rebounds, 1.7 assists and one steal over the weekend en route to being named the ASUN's player and newcomer of the week, and she earned a spot on the Gulf Coast Showcase Beach Bubble all-tournament team. After producing a team-high 10 points against No. 24 Missouri State, she burst on the scene with a game-high 35 points on 14-for-20 shooting in a near-upset of No. 14 Arkansas on Saturday. She tallied four rebounds in each of those games. Following that, she scored the first seven points of the game in Sunday's win over Davidson en route to finishing with 19 points and a season-high three assists.
   
• Morehouse (Milwaukee, Wis./Rufus King HS/Western Nebraska CC) became the 48th player of the week selection in program history, while also nabbing the 34th newcomer of the week award. She is the first player since Keri Jewett-Giles on Nov. 26, 2018 to win both awards in the same week.
   
• With her performance on Saturday, Morehouse became just the fifth Eagle to register a 35-point performance in a single-game in the program's Division I era, and three of those came last year - including the record of 38 set by Davion Wingate in last year's ASUN semifinal vs North Florida. She also tied Adderly (14 vs North Alabama, 2019) for the most made field goals in a game in the Division I era, and the Eagles held a 14-point advantage with Morehouse on the court. Furthermore, her 35 points and 14 field goals made vs Arkansas are both tied for the third-best totals in a game in the entire nation this year.
   
• As a team, FGCU shot 17-for-48 (.354) from 3-point range in the win over Davidson, with five of those makes coming from Alyssa Blair, 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). In fact, Blair (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie HS) is just six made 3-pointers away from setting a new career season-high while averaging 9.3 points per contest this year.
   
• Blair isn't the only player recording increased production as Emma List, a redshirt junior, may be the most improved player in the country. List (Colorado Springs, Colo./Discovery Canyon Campus/Albany), who averaged 1.5 points and 0.6 assists over seven minutes per contest last year, has quadrupled her minutes played, which has led to 9.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Her 18 total assists leads all players nationally on the young season as she registered just the 10th game in the program's Division I era with 10+ assists in a game vs Davidson, coming within two of the single-game record held by Courtney Chihil, DyTiesha Dunson and Brittany Kennedy. Offensively, she has produced double-digit scoring totals in three of four contests.
   
• Maddie Antenucci (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill HS), a freshman guard, registered 18 points in her collegiate debut on Nov. 25 against Florida Memorial, breaking Adrianne McNally's record (16 vs West Florida in 2006) for the most points scored by a freshman in her first game in program history. Moreover, she is just the fourth true freshman to start her first collegiate game in the Green and Blue, joining Ty Adderly (2016), Katie Meador (2012) and Courtney Chihil (2008).

BOUNCING BACK

• Since scoring just 18 points in the first half against No. 24 Missouri State on Nov. 27, which featured the largest halftime deficit in program history (31), the Eagles have scored 20+ points in each of the four first-half quarters since, as well as six of the 10 quarters overall. The previous record for largest halftime deficit was 30, which came on Dec. 13, 2009 vs No. 21/24 Michigan State in East Lansing. 

RARE LOSS

• FGCU's 86-80 loss vs No. 14 Arkansas was the program's first when scoring at least 80 points since the 2014-15 season. The Eagles are now 104-4 all-time as a Division I program when scoring at least 80 points.

A FAMILIAR PLACE

• Despite having to potentially replace more production than any women's basketball team in the nation, FGCU was tabbed to repeat as the ASUN regular season champion by the coaches and media this year. The Eagles collected five of the nine first-place votes in the coaches poll, while nabbing 23 of the 28 in the media poll, with Liberty and North Florida finishing second and third in each poll.

• This year's predictions represent the ninth time the Eagles have been tabbed to win the crown by both the coaches and media polls since 2009-10. In 2012-13 and 2016-17, they were picked to win by the media only. FGCU was selected to finish 10th in its first season in the conference in 2007-08 and ultimately finished second by just one game. Then, in 2008-09, the Eagles were tabbed fifth before winning the first conference title in program history. Since then, the Green and Blue has compiled 10 regular season titles, all of which have come outright, including the past three in a row. Five of those titles have come in undefeated fashion, as well. 

A PROGRAM FIRST

• Andrea Cecil, a graduate transfer from Bowling Green State University, was tabbed as FGCU's lone preseason all-conference selection, becoming the first player in program history to land a spot on the team despite never playing a prior minute for the Green and Blue. She registered 891 points in her career with the Falcons, where she was named Third Team All-MAC while averaging a team-best 15.8 points, along with 5.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists, in her most recent season with BGSU. 

CECIL APPROACHES 1,000

• Cecil, who is averaging 8.5 points per contest with a pair of double-digit efforts this year, has pushed her NCAA scoring total to 925. She is looking to become the ninth transfer to join the Eagles and then score her 1,000th point. Jordin Alexander is on the list below, but she scored her 1,000th point before coming to FGCU. 

1,000 NCAA Points, Finished Career with Green and Blue
Pts.	Player	Years	Previous School (If One)
1,901	Sarah Hansen	2010-14
1,574	Whitney Knight	2011-16
1,498	Kaneisha Atwater	2012-16	VCU
1,464	Keri Jewett-Giles	2015-20	Southern Miss
1,415	Adrianne McNally	2006-10
1,364	Davion Wingate	2015-20	Stony Brook
1,356	Destiny Washington	2014-19	Ball State
1,329	Jordin Alexander	2012-17	Brown
1,263	Kelsey Jacobson	2008-12
1,234	Taylor Gradinjan	2012-18
1,185	Shannon Murphy	2007-11
1,138	Stephanie Haas	2012-16
1,114	Ashli O'Neal	2016-20	Indiana State
1,093	China Dow	2013-18	Middle Tennessee State
1,084	Nasrin Ulel	2016-20
1,060	Betsy Adams	2008-13	Valparaiso
1,035	Lisa Zderadicka	2014-19	Houston Baptist
1,016	Courtney Chihil	2008-12

 
EXPERIENCED TRIO

• After losing its top seven scorers from last year, five of which went on to play professionally overseas, head coach Karl Smesko had to find some players with Division I experience, and he did so with the additions of Andrea Cecil (BGSU), Kierstan Bell (Ohio State) and Aaliyah Stanley (Eastern Michigan). The trio each started and averaged double-figure points per game for their previous schools. Cecil is a graduate transfer, while Bell and Stanley became eligible immediately after receiving transfer waivers.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARD

• A large reason for the lack of returning experience on this year's team is that last year's squad 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). 

LEGENDARY LEADER

• On pace to reach 600 career wins faster than legendary coaches such as Pat Summitt and Tara VanDerveer did, FGCU head coach Karl Smesko has compiled a 556-124 record (.818) 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 this weekend's matchup against Temple with a 495-97 (.836) record, just five 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 495-97 (.836) 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 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.

FUN WITH NUMBERS AND STUFF
 

Double-Doubles
Player	Season	Career
Andrea Cecil	0	8
Kierstan Bell	1	3
Emma List	1	1

 

Double-Digit Scoring Games
Player	Season	Career
Andrea Cecil	2	38
Kierstan Bell	1	20
Aaliyah Stanley	0	11
Alyssa Blair	3	7
Tanner Bryant	1	4
Sheahen Dowling	1	3
Emma List	3	5
Tyra Cox	0	1
Maddie Antenucci	1	1
Tishara Morehouse	3	3
Aaliyah Stanley	1	1

 

20+ Point Games
Player	Season	Career
Andrea Cecil	0	14
Aaliyah Stanley	0	3
Kierstan Bell	1	2
Tishara Morehouse	1	1

 

25+ Point Games
Player	Season	Career
Andrea Cecil	0	4
Tishara Morehouse	1	1

 

30+ Point Games
Player	Season	Career
Andrea Cecil	0	2
Tishara Morehouse	1	1

 

Double-Digit Rebound Games
Player	Season	Career
Andrea Cecil	0	8
Kierstan Bell	1	3

 

20+ Rebound Games
Player	Season	Career
Kierstan Bell	1	1

 

Double-Digit Assist Games
Player	Season	Career
Emma List	1	1

 
APPROACHING 3-POINT MILESTONE INSIDE ALICO ARENA

• FGCU is 2,892-for-8,315 (.348) from the 3-point line inside Alico Arena all-time, putting the Eagles just 108 makes shy of reaching the 3,000 milestone. 

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
2020-21	44	169	0.260
Totals	2,892	8,315	0.348

 
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 5,449-for-15,783 (.345) from long range over his 18+ years. In fact, the team has made at least one 3-point field goal in 479 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). In 2019-20, 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	0.396
2003-04	118	406	0.291
2004-05	253	722	0.350
2005-06	242	747	0.324
2006-07	337	891	0.378
2007-08	255	734	0.347
2008-09	296	763	0.388
2009-10	317	876	0.362
2010-11	350	940	0.372
2011-12	342	925	0.370
2012-13	319	974	0.328
2013-14	347	1,000	0.347
2014-15	327	928	0.352
2015-16	372	1,194	0.312
2016-17	338	1,058	0.319
2017-18	431	1,190	0.362
2018-19	364	1,111	0.328
2019-20	397	1,155	0.344
2020-21	44	169	0.260
Totals	5,449	15,783	0.345

• FGCU has also made at least 10 or more 3-point field goals in a single game 283 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. 

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
2020-21	3
TOTAL	283

 

• 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 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--