Raining 3s vs Houston Preview

The FGCU women's basketball team (4-2) return home on Wednesday night, November 28 at 5 P.M. as they welcome Houston (3-4)  to the Alico Arena. The game will be a part of a doubleheader as the men's basketball team welcomes FIU at 8 P.M.

Last Time Out:
The Eagles wrapped up a weekend of sunshine, surf, palm trees, hula skirts, fire dancers and Spam musubi as they competed in the Rainbow Wahine Showdown in Honolulu, hosted by Hawaii. The Eagles finished the invitational 2-1 losing 88-65 to #7 Stanford before winning 73-67 against host Hawaii and 90-71 against American University.

Coach 500:
Head coach Karl Smesko's win against American was his 500th in his career. Smesko remains as one of three active coach

Leading the way for the Eagles is redshirt junior Keri Jewett-Giles and junior Nasrin Ulel.

Since transferring from Southern Miss, Jewett-Giles has led the Eagles on the tear. The hometown hero of Ft. Myers is averaging 16 points per game, along with two rebounds, nearly three assists and 1.5 steals per game. In fact, at the Rainbow Wahine Showdown, Jewett-Giles averaged 18 points and as a result, she was named A-SUN Player and Newcomer of the Week for the second straight week and the first to do so in A-SUN history and named on the All-Rainbow Wahine Showdown Team.

"Keri had an outstanding tournament in Hawaii," FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. "She is aggressively attacking the paint and hitting the 3-point shot. That makes her very hard to guard."

Ulel is now averaging 14 points per game. In four straight games, she has scored at least 10 points or higher. The Murrieta, California native averaged 19 points at the Rainbow Wahine Showdown which included a season-high 28 points against American. Ulel also joined Jewett-Giles on the All-Rainbow Wahine Showdown Team.

Redshirt senior Lisa Zderadicka has also been a key factor for the Eagles offensively. Zderadicka is averaging 9.5 points and leads the team in steals (11). The Vienna, Austria native averaged 11 points in the Rainbow Wahine Showdown

Off the bench, it's been redshirt sophomore Chandler Ryan and redshirt senior Destiny Washington that have helped balance the bench.

Despite dropping down in the last two games, Ryan is still averaging 7.2 points per game and is tied with Jewett-Giles for the most three pointers made (14).

Washington has been on fire defensively. The Ball State transfer is averaging 5.5 points per game and is leading the team in blocks (8). Washington-Mabon finished with nine points against American University.

Scouting Houston:
This will be the first time both teams will play each other. The Cougars are coming off of a heartbreaking 89-84 double overtime loss to New Mexico. At home, the Cougars are 1-2 with their only home win against Georgia Tech.

Junior Jasmyn Harris is averaging 20.9 points per game. In the double OT loss to New Mexico, Harris finished with a triple-double of 28 points and 10 steals, but also had 13 turnovers too.

Redshirt sophomore Alyssa Okoene is averaging 11.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Okoene also had a double-double of 12 points and 19 rebounds.

How to Keep Up:
Livestats will be available and will air on ESPN+. The commentary at FGCU will be led by play-by-play commentator Dave Moulton and color commentator J. Webb Horton.

Fans can also keep up on Twitter:
FGCU: @FGCU_WBB
Houston: @UHCougarWBB

Promotions:
As part of the doubleheader, the following promotions are as listed:
1. Whiteout: Fans are encouraged to wear white to show their FGCU spirit.
2.Theme- Star Wars Night: Fans are encouraged to also wear anything involving Star Wars
3. Spirit Cup: Greeks will compete in attendance and spirit for $100 towards their philanthropy
4. Toy Drive: both teams will be accepting toys as part of the holiday to drive for children.
5. Feed FGCU: Bring canned food, benefiting the FGCU food pantry

ESPN+:
FGCU will air on the subscription-based digital platform ESPN+,  the new home for all A-SUN sports. Subscribers can try the new app for free for 30 days, which follows to $4.99 a month fee afterwards.

Livestats link: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=242017

ESPN+ link: http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3e90e9e9-cfa6-48cc-b792-2485ecac81be/houston-vs-florida-gulf-coast