FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball team (14-14, 10-7 ASUN) closes out the regular season on Friday night, welcoming Stetson (19-9, 12-5) to Alico Arena for a 7 p.m. tipoff. The matchup marks Senior Night for the Eagles, who will honor Nay Staton, Cerina Rolle, Maca Retamales, Jordan Campbell, and Anna Mortag.

Friday's contest is the 45th all-time meeting between the programs, with FGCU holding a 38-6 advantage in the series. The Hatters claimed the most recent matchup on Feb. 14 in DeLand, earning a 62-52 victory despite efficient scoring from the Eagles, as Cerina Rolle and Airah Lavy led FGCU with 12 points apiece and Sinai Douglas added 10 points and nine assists.

FGCU enters the regular-season finale coming off a 58-55 home win over North Florida on Feb. 25 that moved the Eagles to 10-7 in conference play. Nay Staton paced the Eagles with 15 points and six rebounds, while Douglas finished with 10 points, six assists, and six steals and Lavy added nine points from beyond the arc as FGCU generated key stops late to secure the victory. The Eagles forced 23 turnovers and capitalized on transition opportunities to close out a tightly contested game.

Stetson arrives after an 85-81 home win over Jacksonville on Wednesday to improve to 12-5 in the ASUN. Mary McMillan led the Hatters with 29 points and a perfect performance at the free-throw line, while Promise Keshi added 16 points and Aleah Sorrentino recorded a double-digit effort with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The Hatters' ability to control the paint and convert at the free-throw line proved decisive down the stretch in the win 

Defensively, FGCU has set the tone throughout conference play. Entering Friday's matchup, the Eagles are holding ASUN opponents to a league-low 56.5 points per game, the third-lowest field goal percentage at 36.7 percent, and the lowest three-point percentage at 25.2 percent while also allowing the second-fewest rebounds at 32.8 per game. Individually, Douglas ranks 15th in scoring at 11.5 points per game while also sitting fourth in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio, and Staton provides interior production with 10.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest. Douglas' two-way impact shows in the defensive numbers as well, ranking among the league leaders in steals, while Anna Mortag continues to contribute rim protection.

From a season-long perspective, FGCU averages 62.4 points per game on 42.7 percent shooting and 30.4 percent from three while converting nearly 70 percent at the free-throw line. The Eagles rely on depth and defensive pressure, led by Douglas' playmaking, Staton's scoring presence, and perimeter contributions from players like Karina Gordon and Lavy. Rebounding and forcing turnovers have been central to FGCU's success, helping create transition scoring opportunities and keep games within reach late.

Stetson enters Friday averaging 70.8 points per game while shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 33.0 percent from three. The Hatters feature multiple scoring threats, led by Cameron Thomas and McMillan, with Sorrentino providing interior rebounding and Keshi contributing across the stat sheet. Their offensive efficiency  allows Stetson to generate points both inside and from the perimeter, while their free-throw efficiency has been a major factor in close games.

With postseason positioning on the line, Friday's matchup carries significant implications. The Eagles can finish anywhere from the No. 5 to No. 7 seed in the ASUN Tournament, which begins March 3 in Jacksonville. FGCU clinches the No. 5 seed with a win and a North Alabama victory, the No. 6 seed with a loss and a West Georgia win, and the No. 7 seed with a loss combined with a North Alabama win. Depending on results across the league, the Eagles could face North Florida, Queens, or Bellarmine in the opening round.

For FGCU, the emphasis will be on protecting the paint, sharpening transition defense, taking care of the basketball, and continuing to improve game by game. Friday's Senior Night provides the Eagles a chance to celebrate the collegiate careers of their seniors and an opportunity to build momentum before postseason play begins, as the Eagles look to carry defensive intensity and efficient scoring into the ASUN Tournament.

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