*Side note: The game vs PRC was when FGCU was a Division II team.
"I thought we shot the ball exceptionally well in the first half," FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. "Even though we turned it over quite a few times, we were able to get a pretty substantial lead because we shot it so well. Then, in the second half, we got to look a lot of players, some who have been in the rotation and others who haven't played very much. So, they got a chance to go out there and show what they can do."
As noted, the game is listed as an exhibition/season game. The game was ruled an exhibition for the Lions and would not effect their overall record and a season game for the Eagles, but would not effect their RPI ranking.
The lineup had a little tweak as redshirt sophomore Chandler Ryan was placed in the starting lineup for redshirt senior Lisa Zderadicka. Zderadicka was getting much needed rest.
Offensively, it was redshirt junior Davion Wingate that led the team. Playing off the bench, the Stony Brook transfer finished with a career-high 28 points (11-16 FG, 3-6 3PT), five rebounds and four steals. For Wingate, this topped her career high when she was playing at Stony Brook (25 points vs FAMU, 12/20/16) and became one of just 12 players in program history to produce at least 28 points at least once.
Following Wingate was Ryan as she passed her career-high in points for the third time (21) and 3-pointers made (7) for the second time. Ryan also added five assists to the mix. Ryan is averaging 18.3 points over the past three contests on 16-for-29 shooting from long range.
Another players that played phenomenally off the bench were sophomore Sheahen Dowling, freshman Tanner Bryant and redshirt freshman Tyra Cox
In 25 minutes, Dowling finished with a career-high 10 points with four rebounds and three assists.
Bryant also topped her career-high with 16 points (5-8 FG, 2-5 3PT, 4-6 FT) and seven rebounds.
Cox finished with eight points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Redshirt junior Keri Jewett-Giles played only nine minutes as she finished with six points and three assists.
Although she did not score any points, junior Tytionia Adderly managed to secure four rebounds and two assists. Adderly four defensive rebounds put her at 366 in her career and is 16 away from passing Taylor Grandijan (381, 2012-13, 2014-18) for sixth all-time. In overall rebounds, Adderly now has 623 and is 18 shy of passing Robyn Swain (340, 2002-04) for fourth all-time.
FGCU opened the game on a 10-0 run and led by as many as 23 in the opening quarter following Ulel's steal and fast break layup with 44 seconds left. In the second, Wingate scored eight points during a 13-3 run. Bryant then gave the Eagles a 32-point lead in the final minute with a 3-pointer. The lead grew to as many as 49 in the second half with 1:22 left.
In the first 20 minutes alone, the Eagles shot 22-for-30 (.733) from the field and 10-for-18 (.556) from 3-point range.
The Eagles, who had four of five starters play 13 minutes or less and never trailed against the Wildcats, got 64 points from the bench and forced 20 turnovers, which led to 27 points the other way. New season-highs were set for field goals made (40), field goal percentage (.588) and 3-point field goal percentage (.439).
Sophomore Tianna Ayulo led Johnson and Wales with 25 points, while senior JoNae Gonzales-Smith added 14.
Up Next:
The Eagles remain at home as they welcome Abilene Christian (7-2) to the Alico Arena on Monday, December 17 at 7 P.M.
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