FGCUWBB vs South Dakota St./Florida Memorial Preview

After going unbeaten in the FGCU Hilton Garden Inn Classic, the FGCU women's basketball remains at home against South Dakota State and NAIA Florida Memorial to conclude the end of 2017 before going into conference.

Last Time Out:
The Eagles (12-3) recently compete against Harvard and SIU-Edwardsville in the FGCU Hilton Garden Inn Classic. They would beat the Crimson 65-56 and the Cougars 66-49 to warp up the tournament. Akron was also a participant in the tournament, but only played Harvard and SIUE. The Eagles lead the nation in 3-point field goals attempted (508) and made (182) while being second in 3-point field goals made per game (12.1) and 64th in 3-point field goal percentage (35.8%).

FGCU Impactful Players:
Senior Rose Julien has been the lead scorer for the Eagles. The Port St. Lucie native averages 13.6 points per game. In the tournament, Julien scored 26 total points in the tournament (22 vs Harvard, 4 vs SIUE) and in four of her season games, she scored at least 20 points or more. During the tournament, Julien was named to the FGCU Hilton Garden Inn Classic Team and tournament MVP as well.

Redshirt senior Taylor Grandijan is averaging 10.4 points per game. The Cudahy, Wisconsin native remains ranked 9th all-time in career points (1,050), and is 13 points away from surpassing Katie Schrader (1,062 career points) for 8th all-time, but did surpass Katie Meador (422, 2012-16) for 7th all-time in career rebounds (427). Grandijan also ranks eighth in the nation in 3-point field goals attempted (109), 10th in 3-point field goals made (44) and 12th in minutes played (473).

After recovering from lightheadedness, sophomore Tyitionia Adderly had three points in a return game against SIUE. The Jupiter native is averaging 8.3 rebounds per game.

Bench Role:
The main players that have provided sparks off the bench are redshirt senior China Dow, redshirt junior Lisa Zderadicka and redshirt senior Jessica Cattani. Redshirt freshman Chandler Ryan also provides minutes for the team.

Redshirt senior China Dow, who has been one of the main sparks off the bench is scoring 9.7 points per game. The Louisville native had 19 points in the tournament (5 vs Harvard, 14 vs SIUE).

Zderadicka is averaging seven points per game including tying a game high 13 points against SIUE. The Vienna, Austria native, who transferred as a grad student from Houston Baptist, has scored 13 points on three different occasions. Zderadicka also was named to the FGCU Hilton Garden Inn Classic All-Tournament Team with Julien.

Cattani, another key factor off the bench, is averaging six points a game. The Muskego, Wisconsin native had three straight games scoring at least 10 points. In the game against SIUE, her streak was snapped as she scored only 3 points in the game. In the game against Ave Maria, Cattani scored a tying career high 21 points off the bench.

Ryan averages 4.4 points per game. She played one minute in the game against SIUE. The last game Ryan played in, prior to that, was against Ave Maria as the Groveland, Illinois native scored 12 points with four rebounds, one assist and four steals.

Scouting the Jackrabbits:
South Dakota State (10-3) is coming off their last home game against Wichita State. The Jackrabbits defeated the Shockers 96-64.

Offensively, redshirt junior Macy Miller leads the way. Miller is averaging 17.3 points per game. In Miller's last game against Wichita State, the Mitchell, S.D. native scored 22 points (9-9 FG, 2-2 3FG, 2-3 FT) in the game, and, in six straight games, has scored at least 10 points.

Junior Madison Guebert is another player to watch for. Guebert is averaging 13.5 points per game. In her last game against Wichita, Guebert scored 19 points (7-9 FG, 5-7 3FG) and, like Miller, has scored at least 10 points in five straight games.

Defensively, senior Ellie Thompson and redshirt sophomore Taygn Larson combine for 29 blocks (15 for Thompson, 14 for Larson). Thompson is averaging 6.6 points per game while Larson is averaging 7.4 points per game. Senior Alexis Alexander also comes in to play defensively as she leads the team with 19 steals.

Series History:
This is the second time both teams have met. The last time both teams met was actually on December 29, 2013 where FGCU won 84-59.

Scouting the Lady Lions:
Of course, like the games against Ave Maria and Southeastern, this game is an exhibition for the Lady Lions, but a season game for FGCU. The game will not have any effect on the Eagles' RPI ranking.

Florida Memorial (8-3) is coming off a two-game winning streak after defeating Keiser University 78-71 in conference play and Concordia University (Michigan) 76-62 in non-conference play. The Lady Lions have already played two exhibition games against NCAA D2 Barry University and Florida Tech.

Senior Abreona Cabell leads the team in points per game (17.8). Cabell scored 13 points against Concordia and 32 points against Keiser.

Senior Ashley Henry is averaging 13.5 points per game. In Henry's games against Concordia and Keiser, she had two double-doubles of 12 points and 10 rebounds against Concordia and 17 points and 12 rebounds against Keiser.

Series History:
FGCU is 9-0 against FMU. The last time both teams played was on February 6, 2006, where the Eagles won 70-27 when FGCU was an NCAA DII team.

The Eagles will play SD St on December 29 at 7:30 PM and then Florida Memorial on December 30 at 7 PM. Both games are punch pass games and both will air on ESPN 3.