Women’s Basketball Set to Open 2021-22 Season Tuesday

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU ladies’s basketball workforce opens the 2021-22 season, Tuesday night at Alico Area after they host Florida Memorial. Tip-off is about for five p.m.

The Eagles enter the season as defending ASUN champions after going 26-3 total and 16-0 within the ASUN en path to their eighth NCAA Match look in 2021. Coming into this season, the Eagles had been chosen by each the coaches and the media to repeat, accumulating 32 of a potential 34 first-place votes between the 2 polls.

FOLLOW ALONG

As each Eagle residence recreation this 12 months can be, Tuesday’s contest will can be broadcast on ESPN+. Tom James (PxP) and J. Webb Horton (Analyst) can be on the decision.

 

SEASON OPENERS

FGCU has compiled a 14-5 report all-time in season openers, together with a 10-4 report within the Division I period. That is the second-straight 12 months the Eagles have opened at residence after defeating Florida Memorial, 86-40, a season in the past.

 

 
HOME OPENERS
By way of residence openers, FGCU is 17-2 all-time, together with an 12-2 report within the Division I period. That features a five-game successful streak, and there are three wins over Energy 5 groups inside these 16 victories – Illinois (2017), Michigan State (2011) and Florida (2008).
 

SERIES HISTORY
The Inexperienced and Blue are 13-0 all-time towards Florida Memorial, together with a 8-0 report at residence courting again to the primary assembly between the 2 groups on Nov. 26, 2002.
 
RAINING THREES IN ALICO
FGCU is 3,013-for-8,670 (.348) from the 3-point line inside Alico Area all-time. General, the Eagles led the nation in three-pointers made per recreation for the second season in a row and fourth time in program historical past, averaging 11.8 per contest in 2020-21. The Eagles have additionally made a three-pointer in 504 straight video games.
 
BEST IN NCAA HISTORY
FGCU enters the 2021-22 season with an all-time successful proportion of .841, the very best amongst all Division I establishments. In truth, the Eagles are the one Division I workforce above .800 as Tennessee sits in second at .799.
 

 
FINISHING RANKED!
After going 26-3 final season, the Eagles discovered themselves ranked within the top-25 in each the AP and Coaches ballot for the second time in program historical past, ending twenty fourth within the AP ballot and twenty fifth within the coaches ballot. Coming into this season, the Eagles are simply on the surface wanting in as they sit at #28 within the AP ballot and #29 within the coaches ballot.
 
RING THE BELL
Junior Kierstan Bell (Alliance, Ohio/Canton McKinley/Ohio State) is coming off one of many best seasons in FGCU and ASUN historical past and can look to repeat her efforts this 12 months.
 
A 12 months in the past, Bell was named the ASUN Participant of the 12 months, the Becky Hammon Mid-Main Participant of the 12 months, and an Honorable Point out All-American by each the AP and the WBCA after averaging 24.3 factors and 10.6 rebounds per recreation
 
To nobody’s shock, Bell enters this season because the ASUN Preseason Participant of the 12 months. She was additionally named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Main Participant of the 12 months watch listing in addition to the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Award watch listing, which acknowledges the highest capturing guard in all of faculty basketball.
 
Most Profession Double-Doubles
FGCU’s Division I Period (2007-present)
 

 
MOREHOUSE RECOGNIZED
Senior Tishara Morehouse (Milwaukee, Wis./Rufus King/Western Nebraska CC) joined Bell on the ASUN Preseason Group as she was additionally a unanimous choice. She was additionally named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Main Participant of the 12 months watch listing alongside Bell as nicely.
 
RARE TERRITORY
Tyra Cox (Orlando, Fla./Lake Highland Prep/William & Mary) completed final season with extra steals than turnovers, her third straight season engaging in the feat for FGCU. She grew to become simply the second participant in program historical past with three such seasons, however must do yet one more time to catch her former teammate, Alyssa Blair, who did all of it 4 years for the Inexperienced and Blue.

EXTREME CARE

The Eagles handle the ball like few else in NCAA ladies’s basketball. Each single participant on the workforce had a optimistic help to turnover ratio because the workforce ranked third nationally at 1.48 in 2020-21. Emma List ranked forty first within the nation individually at 2.21.

THE WINNING DOESN’T STOP

 

SMESKO’S PREPARATION

Coach Smesko’s recreation preparation is without doubt one of the most important elements within the Eagles’ all-time success. General, in 19 seasons at FGCU, he holds a report of 194-33 (.855) in video games the place he has 4 or extra days to organize.

STATE DOMINANCE

FGCU has received 36 extra video games over the previous six-plus seasons than some other Division I workforce within the state of Florida.

    
LEGENDARY LEADER
On tempo to achieve 600 profession wins quicker than legendary coaches reminiscent of Pat Summitt (734 video games) and Tara VanDerveer (767 video games), FGCU head coach Karl Smesko has compiled a 580-125 report (.823) in his profession, which ranks him because the third-winningest lively Division I head coach behind Geno Auriemma (1,119-144, .886) and Kim Mulkey (632-104, .859). Moreover, he handed VanDerveer (1,125-255, .815) in 2017-18 to change into 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 is not sufficient, he’s the Tenth-winningest lively head coach throughout all divisions, in addition to the Twelfth-winningest such coach all-time. 
 
AMONG THE NATION’S BEST
Coming into this 12 months, FGCU produced 205 wins over the previous seven seasons, which is essentially the most amongst all mid-majors and fifth-most amongst any Division I program – behind UConn (240), Baylor (228), South Carolina (210) and Maryland (206). In truth, it places them forward of faculties reminiscent of Louisville (204), Mississippi State (196), Notre Dame (195), Stanford (199), Oregon State (177) and Oregon (172). On high of that, this system is certainly one of solely 5 within the nation on the Division I degree with 4 30-win seasons throughout that stretch – becoming a member of UConn, Baylor, Notre Dame and South Carolina.
 
RARE AIR
The Eagles have registered a degree of sustained success matched by solely two different Division I faculties as Coach Smesko has guided FGCU to 11 straight 25-win seasons. Baylor and UConn are the one different groups to have 11 straight. FGCU has additionally recorded 17-straight 20-win seasons courting again to 2004-05.
 
FUN WITH NUMBERS AND STUFF

RAINING THREES LEGACY
At FGCU, Smesko has turned FGCU into one of many premier 3-point capturing groups within the nation as his groups have made a mixed 5,748-for-16,644 (.345) from lengthy vary over his 18+ years. In truth, the Eagles have made at the very least one 3-point discipline objective in 504­ straight video games, which incorporates each recreation in this system’s Division I period. In 2020-21, the Eagles led the nation in 3-point discipline targets made (343), 3-point discipline targets tried (1,030) and 3-point discipline targets per recreation (11.8) for the second season in a row. In 2017-18, the Inexperienced and Blue made an NCAA Division I single season report 431 3-pointers, which stays a report getting into this season.
 
This is FGCU’s year-by-year 3-point historical past:
 

 
FGCU has additionally made at the very least 10 or extra 3-point discipline targets in a single recreation 302 instances, together with a single-season report 25 instances in 2017-18. They’ve at the very least 15 video games with at the very least 10 or extra in every of the previous 13 seasons.
 
This is a listing of FGCU’s all-time video games with at the very least 10 made 3-pointers:
 

 
On high of that, the 2017-18 workforce produced three of this system’s seven video games all-time with at the very least 20 or extra, and the Eagles have added 4 video games with 19 over the previous two seasons. This system’s single-game report of twenty-two was initially set on Jan. 12, 2013 in a 97-60 win over ETSU (22-for-43) on the highway, and the 2017-18 workforce tied the mark at Abilene Christian (22-for-45) on Dec. 3 and at residence towards Lipscomb (22-for-44) on March 7. The latter represents this system’s postseason mark, and so they personal three of the highest seven single-game totals in NCAA Division I historical past getting into the 2021-22 season. In truth, there was solely 32 instances since 1988 that an NCAA Division I workforce had made at the very least 20 3-point discipline targets in a recreation, and FGCU owns seven of these, or 21.9 %.
 
In 2020-21, FGCU grew to become the primary workforce in NCAA Division I ladies’s basketball historical past to report six straight seasons with at the very least 1,000 3-point discipline objective makes an attempt. Sacramento State achieved the yearly benchmark over 4 straight seasons from 2013-17 whereas DePaul’s three-year streak ended final season. The 2013-14 FGCU squad joined Sacramento State as the primary two groups to try 1,000 in a season.
 
Previous to breaking the single-season report for made 3-point discipline targets in 2017-18, FGCU claimed a then single-season NCAA report 342 in 2011-12, which was the primary 12 months they had been eligible for NCAA statistical championships. Had they been eligible in 2010-11, additionally they would have led the nation with 350 – 26 greater than the second-place workforce. The 2009-10 workforce would have completed second. In truth, over the previous 9 years, the Inexperienced and Blue have completed among the many nation’s high 5 in made 3-point discipline targets yearly, together with three first-place finishes.
 
This is how FGCU has completed nationally in whole 3-point discipline targets made since 2011-12:
 

 
Along with the aforementioned report, the 2011-12 workforce additionally set a then NCAA single season report for many 3-point discipline targets made per recreation at 10.7, and so they adopted it up in 2012-13 by making 9.4 per recreation, which was essentially the most within the nation. In 2017-18, FGCU joined DePaul as the primary two groups to eclipse 400 made 3-point discipline targets in a season in NCAA Division I historical past. In truth, the Eagles stood out within the NCAA’s deepest 3-point capturing 12 months as eight groups averaged 10 or extra made per recreation in 2017-18, which was equal to the full from the earlier two seasons mixed and the identical as 2009-15 mixed. Six groups reached the milestone in 2018-19, 4 extra adopted in 2019-20, and 5 extra a season in the past. Among the many 17 groups to common at the very least 10 or extra made per recreation over a single season, FGCU is the one college to do it six instances.
 
This is how FGCU has completed nationally in whole 3-point discipline targets made per recreation since 2011-12:
 

 
For full protection of the ladies’s basketball program, comply with the Eagles on Twitter and Instagram at @FGCU_WBB, on Facebook at /fgcuwbb and on-line at www.FGCUathletics.com. You too can sign-up to have information on FGCU ladies’s basketball or different packages delivered on to your inbox by visiting www.fgcuathletics.com/email.

E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN

IT TAKES A TEAM to realize our latest objective – a $10 million marketing campaign to deal with student-athlete wants in continued educational success, life expertise, psychological well being, vitamin, and energy and conditioning in addition to departmental wants in facility growth and enchancment in addition to mentoring and management coaching for coaches and employees. The identify embodies our mission and the aim of the E.A.G.L.E. Marketing campaign – Eagle Athletics Producing Lifetime Excellence. Be a part of Our Group and pledge your gift today to assist the Eagles of tomorrow!

 

SUPPORT THE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PROGRAM

Do you get pleasure from watching or following the FGCU ladies’s basketball program? Would you wish to play a job within the progress of this system and assist take it to heights by no means earlier than skilled? If that’s the case, you’ll be able to attain out to Director of Development, Matt Ring, about alternatives to make an impression on the experiences of our student-athletes. He will be reached by e mail at mring@fgcu.edu or by workplace telephone at 239-745-4434.

COACH SMESKO

FGCU head coach Karl Smesko maintains a report of 580-125 (.823) total in his profession, which is the third-highest successful proportion amongst lively Division I coaches behind solely UConn’s Geno Auriemma and Baylor’s Kim Mulkey. He has additionally led the Eagles to a 217-17 (.927) mark in ASUN common season play and a 27-2 (.931) report in ASUN match play. Over the previous 10 seasons, he has guided FGCU to a 153-5 (.968) report in convention play with six undefeated seasons. The 11-time ASUN Coach of the 12 months has led this system to 11-straight 25-win seasons and 17-consecutive 20-win campaigns, together with 30-plus wins in 4 of the previous seven years. On high of all that, the Eagles are 519-98 all-time since Smesko began this system within the 2002-03 season, and the Inexperienced and Blue’s .841 all-time successful proportion is the most effective in NCAA Division I ladies’s basketball historical past.

 

#FEEDFGCU

FGCU Athletics sponsors occasions in November and April to profit the FGCU Campus Meals Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Meals Financial institution (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics’ charities of alternative. For extra data, together with find out how to make a contribution, please go to www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and make the most of the hashtag #FeedFGCU to assist elevate consciousness.

 

ABOUT FGCU

FGCU groups have mixed to win an unimaginable 85 convention common season and match titles in simply 13+ seasons on the Division I degree. Moreover, in simply 9 seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a mixed 42 groups or people compete in NCAA championships. Eight FGCU packages have earned a top-25 nationwide rating of their respective sport – together with ladies’s basketball (No. 21, 2020-21), seashore volleyball (No. 20, 2021) and each males’s soccer (2018, 2019) and ladies’s soccer (2018) as three of the newest. In 2016-17, the Inexperienced and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place end within the DI-AAA Learfield Administrators’ Cup and top-100 displaying nationally, forward of a number of Energy-5 and FBS establishments. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida finest seven groups earn the NCAA’s Public Recognition Award for his or her Tutorial Progress Fee of their sport. FGCU additionally collectively earned a report 3.50 GPA within the classroom within the fall 2020 semester and has outperformed the overall College undergraduate inhabitants for 23 consecutive semesters. The 2019 Fall, 2020 Spring, and 2020 Fall semesters every noticed one other milestone reached as all 15 packages achieved a 3.0-or-higher workforce GPA. The Eagles additionally served an all-time excessive 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 – being acknowledged as certainly one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Group Service Award offered by the Fiesta Bowl.