FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast women's basketball is set to wrap up its three-game homestand with a pivotal Coastal Clash matchup against FAU (2-2) at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14.

FGCU will welcome back a pair of alumni now on the FAU coaching staff. Keri Jewett-Giles (2018-20) is an assistant coach for the Owls, and Khamari Mitchell-Steen (2024-25) is a graduate assistant. Jewett-Giles is in FGCU's 1,000 point club, while Mitchell-Steen played with current Eagles Cerina Rolle and Karina Gordon.  

The last time out, the Eagles exploded for a 68 point win over Ave Maria behind 18 points and 14 rebounds from Amelia Hobson, both of which were career highs for the Melbourne, Australia, native. Lily Zeinstra stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, six rebounds, a career-high five steals and four assists; Eve Alexander (12 points) and Ari Turla (10 points) joined Hobson and Zeinstra in double-digits.

After grabbing 53 rebounds against Arkansas State, FGCU (2-1) brought down 50 against Ave Maria, marking the second time in program history and the first time in the Division I era that the Eagles had back-to-back 50 rebound games. The only other occurrence was in 2006, when FGCU had 62 rebounds against the District of Columbia and 53 against Rollins on Feb. 26 and March 10, respectively.

The result was quickly secured due to the Eagles' stingy defense, which held the Gyrenes to just five made field goals across the first three quarters. In total, Ave Maria finished shooting 18.9% from the field and 17.4% from 3-point range after shooting 12.2% from the field in the opening three periods, and not making a 3-pointer until the final quarter. FGCU led 18-4 after the first quarter and 72-16 at the end of the third. Zeinstra's five steals led all players, but seven Eagles recorded a steal and six had at least two takeaways, and Hobson had three of FGCU's seven blocks.

The Owls enter at 2-2, with wins over South Alabama and Kennesaw State, and losses to No. 4 Duke and Miami. Five Owls scored in double-digits in FAU's win over South Alabama, led by 14 points from Grace Carstensen on 4-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc. 

Erin Rodgers leads FAU with 12.3 points per game, but did not play in the win over the Jaguars. Four Owls are shooting over 40% from 3-point range, including Carstensen, who is shooting 57.1% from deep. Rodgers and Juju Leroux each grab 5.0 rebounds per game; Skyla Tuthill leads FAU with 10 assists and seven steals, and Mia Jordan has 10 blocks. FAU employs a deep bench, with 11 players averaging at least 14 minutes per game, while only Tuthill (26.2 MPG) averages over 25 MPG. 

FGCU leads the all-time series with their cross-state rival 2-1, but both of the Eagles' wins have come in Boca Raton. The two squads will meet in Fort Myers for the first time in over a decade – since Nov. 17, 2015 – on Saturday.

Last season, Sinai Douglas and Cerina Rolle propelled the Eagles to a 70-59 road win over FAU. Douglas scored 13 with five assists and four rebounds, and Rolle scored 11 with six assists and six rebounds. Jalei Pillow added 12 points and five rebounds, and Karina Gordon chipped in 10 points for FGCU.

Rodgers missed last season's matchup for the Owls, but Carstensen had nine points on three made 3-pointers for FAU in the loss. The Owls also return Haley Walker, who had five points and nine rebounds against the Eagles, along with Madi Gewirtz, Vivian Onugha and Zahira Arizmendi.

Season tickets, mini plans, and single-game tickets for FGCU women's basketball are on sale now. Tickets to see FGCU face Tennessee and either Houston or Creighton during Coconut Hoops at Alico Arena are also on sale now.

For more information on the Eagles, follow FGCU Women's Basketball on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook, and visit FGCUAthletics.com.