Head coach
Karl Smesko notched his 600th win at FGCU Wednesday with a 72-55 victory at Bellarmine in Louisville, Kentucky.
"Good win for us tonight," 22nd-year coach Smesko said. "Sofia played great. Dolly really helped us on the boards, and Shekinah gave us a big lift when she got in."
Smesko has produced a level of sustained and nearly unmatched success in the women's college basketball ranks, guiding the Eagles to 13 straight 25-plus win seasons - a feat that only UConn and FGCU have achieved. Smesko (.829) is the third-winningest active Division I head coach, just behind UConn's Geno Auriemma (.882) and LSU's Kim Mulkey (.860).
The goat has also directed FGCU to 13 ASUN regular season titles, nine ASUN Tournament crowns and four NCAA Tournament victories. FGCU is the winningest 12th seed in NCAA Tournament history. With an all-time program win percentage of .845, the Green and Blue entered the 2023-24 season as the winningest program in the history of women's college basketball.
It was no easy task to get to win No. 600 Wednesday. The Knights were up for the fight. Bellarmine cut off the driving lanes and put an active hand in the face of the Eagles on the perimeter, forcing FGCU to shoot just 23.8 percent from distance.
FGCU found other ways to score. The Eagles scored 38 points in the paint, 12 points off turnovers and 10 fast break points. The Green and Blue went 19-of-23 from the line as well. The Eagles are now winners of 11 straight and have won 30 connective conference games against current ASUN member institutions, improving to 18-4 and 8-0 in league play this season.
FGCU soared out to an early 13-2 lead, but Bellarmine would use an 8-0 to tie the game at 26-all late in the second period. The Eagles countered with a 6-0 to secure a six-point lead, 34-28, at the break.
Sofia Persson's buzzer-beating three was waved off, which would have given the Eagles a nine-point advantage to end the half. Persson had herself a night, contributing a season-high 17 points.
Emani Jefferson added a team-leading 18 points despite facing foul trouble most of the game.
Shekinah Guthrie emerged as the third Eagle to reach double figures Wednesday, providing 10 points.
Dolly Cairns was active on the boards with a game and season-high 12 rebounds.
FGCU took its largest lead of the night (15) into the fourth quarter, leading 57-42, and would pull away by as many as 19 in the final period.
FGCU returns home this Saturday to face Eastern Kentucky at Alico Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
