In a wave of 2,000 fans, the FGCU women's basketball team (1-1) soared in their home opener at the Alico Arena as they defeated NAIA Florida Memorial (3-1) by a score of 99-68.
"I thought we were a little better offensively than last game," FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. "We shared the ball more, we moved the ball more. I thought we got good shots on offense for the most part. The concern is obviously on defense. We fouled too much in the first half and they were able to beat us off the dribble and get the ball into the paint. That's something we're going to have to work on."
Prior to the game, the Eagles banners were revealed in recognition of winning the 2017-18 regular season championship, A-SUN Conference Tournament and their sixth NCAA National Tournament appearance.
In addition, the game did count as a season game for the Eagles, but will not effect their RPI ranking, while it is listed as a exhibition for the Lions.
During the game, between timeouts and end of the quarters, the FGCU athletic department recognized people in attendance that served in all five branches of the United States military with the respect of Veterans Day.
Redshirt senior Lisa Zderadicka opened the game with a layup, and the Eagles went on a 15-0 run moments later to open up a 19-4 lead.
Redshirt sophomore Kerstie Phills closed the quarter with an old fashioned 3-point play to push the margin to 18. The 33-point first quarter tied the Dec. 4, 2016 performance against Ave Maria for the program's most in an opening quarter since the NCAA went to its current format.
In the second, redshirt sophomore Chandler Ryan and sophomore Alyssa Blair combined for a trio of 3-point field goals in the final two minutes, including one at the buzzer from Blair to give the Eagles a 22-point margin at the break.
Jewett-Giles then scored eight points to spur a 13-4 run to open the second half, giving FGCU a 70-39 lead.
Another old fashioned 3-point play, this one from redshirt freshman Tyra Cox, capped off an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter. A 3-pointer from freshman Tanner Bryant, and a layup from redshirt senior Brittany Johnson then gave the Eagles its largest lead, 36, in the final two minutes.
For the Eagles, six players finished in double-digit points with Jewett-Giles leading the way. The hometown favorite finished with 15 points (6-for-11, 3-for-6 3 PT), four rebounds and three assists.
"It was just a great experience playing in front of my home crowd," Jewett-Giles said. "I'm just glad to be back home and playing for this university. It's just a great feeling. Last year, I spent a lot of time sitting out. I've been waiting forever to get back."
Phills was two rebounds shy of her first double-double with the Eagles as she finished with 11 points (4-6, 3-7 FT), eight rebounds, a block and an assist. Both Jewett-Giles and Phills were in the starting lineup.
Junior Nasrin Ulel had nine points and two rebounds, while redshirt senior Lisa Zderadicka had six points, two rebounds and two assists.
Although she did not score any points, junior Tytionia Adderly finished with 13 rebounds (four offensive) and three assists. With four of her rebounds on the offensive end, Adderly is now second all-time in career offensive rebounds (244) as she passed Adrianne McNally (240, 2006-10). Adderly is 86 away from passing Sarah Hansen (329, 2010-14) as the all-time leader in career offensive rebounds. With her nine defensive rebounds, Adderly now has 334 career defensive rebounds and is 48 away from passing Taylor Grandijan (381, 2012-3, 14-18) for sixth all-time. With her 13 total rebounds, the Jupiter native now has 578 and is 26 away from passing Courtney Chihil (603, 2008-12) for fifth all-time.
Off the bench, sophomore Alyssa Blair (four rebounds, three assists), redshirt sophomore Chandler Ryan (five rebounds, three assists) and redshirt junior Davion Wingate (six rebounds, two assists, one block and two steals) scored 13 points each. For Ryan and Blair, it was a career-high for them.
Freshman Tanner Bryant had 10 points (4-for-8, 2-for-5 3PT) and two rebounds.
Redshirt senior Destiny Washington finished with four points and three rebound, Cox had three points, two rebounds and two assists, Johnson had two points, two rebounds, an assist and a block, sophomore Sheahen Dowling contributed with two rebounds, and freshman Samantha Streeter contributed with an assist.
Johnson made her FGCU debut as a grad student after graduating and transferring from Quinnipiac University.
Streeter, a former student manager for the Eagles, made the team as a walk-on from Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida. Streeter was an All-Cape Coast Conference standout for both her junior and senior year, a Brevard County Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Year and the FHSAA Class 6A District 13 leading scorer her senior year.
For the Lions, it was the Battles that led the team and by that I mean the Battle sisters, junior Kanesha, sophomore Bri, and freshman Tyesha. All three sisters scored in double figures. Kanesha led the team with 31 points (10-for-19, 5-for-9 3PT, 6-for-7 FT), three rebounds and a steal, Bri had 21 points (5-for-18, 3-for-13 3PT, 8-for-9 FT), six rebounds and three assists and Tyesha had 10 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
As a team, FGCU's 59 rebounds was just three shy of matching the Alico Arena record as the team improved to 11-0 all-time against Florida Memorial. The 99-point outburst is tied for the eighth-most points in a Division-I era game, and the team's field goals made (38) and attempted (78) is tied for fifth and fourth-most, respectively, in the same era.
Up Next:
FGCU will be back in action at home this Friday at 5 p.m. against Florida International (0-3). The Eagles have met FIU once each year since 2009 and are 9-0 all-time against them.
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