FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball hosts Bellarmine at 6:30 p.m. Thursday for Hometown Heroes Night at Alico Arena.
FGCU Athletics will recognize all military & first responders in attendance at halftime. Beer and hot dogs for $3 each will be available for purchase at the concession stands.
The Eagles (15-3) enter Thursday's contest on an eight-game winning streak, 15-1 under coach Lyles and still perfect in the Atlantic Sun Conference at 6-0, winning each conference game by an average of 28.2 points. The Eagles stand as the last remaining undefeated team in the conference as Lipscomb and Central Arkansas are 5-1 six games into the campaign.
Tickets start at just $10 for general admission. Eagles fans can create and select their own mini-plan of four-, six-, or nine-game packages starting at $44. For more information on single-game and season tickets, please click here or call the FGCU Ticket Office at 1-866-FGCU-TIX (866-324-8449).
KNIGHTED EAGLES:
FGCU is 5-0 all-time against the Bellarmine Knights dating back to 2021. Last year, FGCU added a 72-55 win in Louisville, Kentucky, to the series record. The Eagles have dominated the Knights in the series, winning by an average score of 28 points, with the smallest margin of victory being 17 a season ago. Bellarmine comes to Fort Myers 3-3 in the ASUN, wins over West Georgia, Queens and Central Arkansas, and 12-7 overall. Bellarmine was picked to finish eighth in the Preseason ASUN Poll. Hayley Harrison was a preseason all-conference selection and is averaging a team-best 16.0 points per game, currently placing fourth in the ASUN.
TOP 5 SCORING DEFENSE:
Harrison and the Knights will go up against one of the nation's best scoring defenses. FGCU boasts the fifth-best scoring defense in the country, allowing 52.5 points per game with a season-high of just 62. The Green and Blue has held 16 of 18 opponents this season to 58 points or less. FGCU has forced 12 or more turnovers in every game this season and has forced more than 20 turnovers in eight contests. The Green and Blue is averaging 10.8 steals per outing with Khamari Mitchell-Steen leading the way with 31 on the year. Emani Jefferson, Lauryn Taylor and Skyler Gill each have swiped more than 20 steals this season. Taylor is averaging 8.4 rebounds per game to limit second-chance points, ranking second overall in the category across the ASUN.
FGCU IN THE POLLS:
The Green and Blue has now earned votes in the USA Today Coaches Top 25 Poll for the third consecutive week. FGCU improved another two spots in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll, climbing back into the top 10 at No. 9 overall. FGCU was ranked No. 11 last week and has not dropped lower than No. 16 this season. FGCU is the lone representative from the ASUN in both polls.
LAST TIME OUT (AT WEST GEORGIA):
Last time on the court, FGCU produced season-highs in 3-pointers and in points scored to defeat West Georgia 95-62 in Carrollton, Georgia. FGCU made 15 trifectas in Carrollton, shooting 48.4 percent from 3-point land. Five Eagles reached double-digit points in the season-high 95 on the scoreboard with Mitchell-Steen leading the charge with 14 to eclipse 1,000-career points. This season, the Eagles' offense has been led by two of the best shooters in the nation, Jefferson and Dolly Cairns. Jefferson's 60.7 percent from the field ranks 12th nationally. The Preseason ASUN Player of the Year has scored double figures in all but one game this season and is averaging a team-best 14.0 points per game, ranking fifth across the ASUN. Cairns is shooting 43 percent from behind the arc for the 31st-best 3-point percentage in the nation, knocking down 37 triples.
GET TO EIGHT:
FGCU is 12-0 on the year when the Eagles hit eight or more 3-pointers. The Eagles are now Top 25 in both 3-point attempts (26.6 for No. 19) and made 3-pointers (8.7 for No. 24) per game this season. The Green and Blue has knocked down 300 or more made threes for 15 straight seasons, leading the country in made threes in five out of the last seven seasons. The Eagles produced 325 treys a season ago, placing sixth overall in the nation. In 2018, the Eagles set the NCAA record for the most made threes in a single season with 431.
CONFERENCE WIN STREAK:
Against the ASUN, FGCU has won 39 consecutive games against ASUN foes. The Eagles' last loss to an ASUN opponent occurred Jan. 21, 2023, against Liberty, some 733 days ago. Liberty has since moved on to the C-USA. Only South Carolina (44) and South Dakota State (43) currently hold a longer conference winning streak. Entering this season, FGCU was an astounding 97-3 in its last 100 ASUN regular season games.
PRESEASON FAVORITES:
The Eagles emerged as the preseason favorites in both the 2024-25 ASUN Coaches and Media Polls. FGCU posted its seventh undefeated mark in conference play a season ago, 16-0, to win its seventh straight ASUN regular season title and 14th all-time in program history. FGCU won each regular season conference game by double digits for an average of a dominating 24.5 points. The Green and Blue went on to capture its eighth straight ASUN Tournament title on its home floor to punch its ticket back to the Big Dance for the 10th time in the last 13 years.
WINNING TRADITION LIVES ON:
Coming into the 2024-25 campaign, FGCU rose to No. 3 overall in total wins over the last three seasons. FGCU's 92 wins during the span trails only South Carolina (109) and UConn (94). Only FGCU and UConn have won 25 or more games for 14 consecutive years. FGCU has three 30-win seasons in the last five years, tying UConn and Stanford. Only South Carolina has more with four.
UP NEXT:
FGCU welcomes Eastern Kentucky to the City of Palms on Saturday for a 2 p.m. contest and Azul's Birthday. Doors open at 12:30 pm. The first 500 fans will receive an Azul Beach Towel. Local mascots will also be in attendance to help celebrate Azul, including an inflatable fun zone in the Aux Gym.
