FGCU WBB vs South Dakota St. Recap

After the completion of the men's basketball game against Florida Memorial, the FGCU women's basketball team (13-3) took to the floor against South Dakota State (10-4). In a tough neck and neck battle of the game where the Jackrabbits took a four-point lead, the Eagles finished to the end and won 87-78.

This was a battle between two top 10 CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major teams. SD St is #2 while FGCU is #3.

"I thought it was a great basketball game, really exciting," FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. "It had big runs by both teams. South Dakota State was really impressive. They made us pay for every mistake we made. If we had a miscommunication, the ball got to that miscommunication, and they knocked down shots at a high percentage.

Five players from FGCU scored at least 10 points in the game.

Senior Rose Julien led the way offensively with 18 points (5-for-11 FG, 3-for-8 3FG, 5-for-6 FT), five rebounds, one assist, one block and two steals.

Sophomore Nas Ulel was held to only scoring three points with two rebounds and two steals.

Senior Erica Nelson was three assists shy of a double-double as she finished with 10 points (4-for-7 FG, 1-for-4 3FG, 1-for-2 FT), one rebound and seven assists.

Sophomore Tytionia Adderly was also shy of a double-double as she finished with 11 points (4-for-7 FG, 3-for-4 FT), nine rebounds (five offensive, four defensive) and three steals.

Adderly's five offensive rebounds put her at 158 career offensive rebounds and is now 26 away from surpassing Courtney Chihil (183) for seventh all-time.

Redshirt senior Taylor Grandijan moved up in the ranks for program history. Grandijan had 17 points (6-for-15 FG, 3-for-11 3FG, 2-for-2 FT), six rebounds and three assists.

Grandijan was two points away from passing her season high.

With her 17 points, the rare sixth-year senior and Cudahy, Wisconsin native has scored 1,067 career points in which she has surpassed Katie Schrader (1,062 career points) for seventh all-time and is 69 points away from surpassing former player and current video coordinator Stephanie Haas (1138, 2011-16) for 6th all-time.

In addition, Grandijan recently surpassed Katie Meador (422, 2012-16) for seventh all-time in career rebounds. Grandijan's six rebounds move her to 433 in her career and she is 75 rebounds away from surpassing Kaniesha Atwater (508, 2013-16) for sixth all-time.

Off the bench, redshirt seniors, China Dow and Jessica Cattani, and redshirt junior Lisa Zderadicka contributed to the game.

Dow had 17 points (5-for-10 FG, 3-for-5 3FG, 4-for-4 FT), four rebounds, two assists and three steals.

Zderadicka had six points (3-for-3 FG), two rebounds and three assists.

Cattani contributed with five points (2-for-3 FG, 1-for-2 3FG) and one assist.

The Eagles made 11 3-pointers in the game and were 16-20 (80%) from the free throw line.

For the Jackrabbits, redshirt junior Macy Miller had 24 points (9-for-13 FG, 3-for-4 3FG, 3-for-3 FT), three rebounds, two assists and three steals.

Junior Madison Guebert had 22 points (8-for-14 FG, 6-for-10 3FG), three rebounds and five assists.

Freshman Myah Selland had 15 points (5-for-11 FG, 2-for-5 3FG, 3-for-3 FT), five rebounds and two assists.

Senior Alexis Alexander had five points and four assists.

Senior Ellie Thompson had three points, two rebounds, and one assist.

Off the bench, redshirt senior Chynna Stevens, sophomore Rylie Cascio Jensen, freshman Tylee Irwin, redshirt sophomore Taygn Larson and sophomore Sydney Tracy also contributed to the game for the Jackrabbits. Stevens had four points, two rebounds, and one assist, Cascio Jensen added two rebounds and three assists, Irwin had five points, three rebounds, and one assist, Larson and Tracy added one rebound each. Tracy also added the teams only block.

The Jackrabbits made 14 3-pointers in the game and were 6-6 from the free throw line.

Up next, the Eagles play NAIA Florida Memorial on Saturday, December 30 at 7 PM to close off the end of 2017. This will be the last non-conference game for the Eagles before they begin conference against Stetson on January 6, 2018.