Freshman Maddie Antenucci poured in a game-high 18 points, along with five rebounds and three assists, in her collegiate debut to lead the FGCU women's basketball team to an 86-40 win over Florida Memorial in the season opener on Wednesday inside Alico Arena.
With the win, which featured six players reach double-digit scoring totals, FGCU is now 14-5 all-time in season openers, as well as 17-2 in home openers, including a streak of five straight victories. On top of that, the Eagles are now 13-0 all-time against Florida Memorial.
"It was good to get a game under our belt," FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. "We have a lot of new players, and a lot of them who are having their first college game. We haven't been able to scrimmage this year, so this was our first chance to execute a game plan and how we run things. It was definitely uneven, but there were some really good performances. We'll try to build from here."
Before she even scored her first points, which came via a steal and fast break layup under a minute into the game, Antenucci made history by becoming just the fourth true freshman to start her first collegiate game in the Green and Blue. She joined Tytionia Adderly (2016), Katie Meador (2012) and Courtney Chihil (2008). All of her points came in the first half, but with her total, she broke Adrianne McNally's record (16 vs West Florida in 2006) for most points scored by a freshman in her first game in program history.
Grad Student Andrea Cecil who competed in her first game with the Eagles as a graduate transfer, added 13 in her FGCU debut while chipping in five rebounds and three assists. Seniors Alyssa Blair and Sheahen Dowling each contributed 12 points, while Blair led all players in rebounds (9) and steals (4). Junior Tanner Bryant (11 points, six rebounds, four assists) and redshirt junior Emma List (10 points, six rebounds, two steals) also notched double-figures. For List it's her career-high while wearing the Green and Blue.
Freshmen Tomia Johnson (6) and Seneca Hackley (2) also reached the scoring column in their collegiate debuts, while Hackley ripped down eight boards and dished four assists in 21 minutes. Johnson added three steals, and redshirt freshman Kierra Adams totaled two points in her first game with FGCU after redshirting last season.
As a team, FGCU assisted on 20 of 29 field goals as five players had at least three apiece. Four players notched at least two steals and all but one player had at least three boards. All of Antenucci's five rebounds came on the offensive glass.
Milestone Watch
The Eagles made 10-for-41 from long distance, which is the 281st game in program history with double-figures as a team. Furthermore, FGCU has now made 2,858 3-pointers inside Alico Arena all-time as they approach the 3,000 milestone.
On top of that, FGCU improved its all-time record to 494-95 (.839), which puts the Eagles just six victories away from the 500 milestone.
Individual, Cecil pushed her NCAA scoring total to 887 in her 91st career game.
Next Up
FGCU will be back in action this week in the Gulf Coast Showcase's Beach Bubble as the Eagles are set to host No. 24 Missouri State on Friday, No. 14 Arkansas on Saturday and Davidson on Sunday. All three games are closed to the general public
