#22 FGCU/UNF PREVIEW

Jacksonville, FL- FGCU (23-2, 12-1 ASUN) heads on the road to face UNF (11-14, 4-8 ASUN), Saturday afternoon at 2 PM from UNF Arena.

Stats (#22 FGCU):

#22 FGCU averages 79.9 ppg, shoots 44.0% (717/1629) from the field, and 32.4% (298/919) from beyond the arc. The Eagles average 36.1 team rebounds per game. #22 FGCU dishes out 17.7 assists, 10.4 steals, and 2.9 blocks per game. The Eagles average 11.8 team turnovers per game.

Stats (UNF):

UNF averages 67.0 ppg, shoots 43.0% (630/1464) from the field, and 30.3% (175/577) from beyond the arc. The Ospreys average 35.5 team rebounds per game. UNF dishes out 15.2 assists, 8.6 steals, and 4.9 blocks per game. The Ospreys average 17.0 team turnovers per game.

Outstanding Players (#22 FGCU):

5’3 SR G TK Morehouse 14.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg

5’7 GR G Kendall Spray 11.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg

5’9 GR G Kerstie Phills 9.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg

Outstanding Players (UNF):

6’4 R-SR F Jazz Bond 15.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg

5’8 5th G Rhetta Moore 12.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg

6’3 JR F Emma Broermann 9.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg

Overview:

Going into this season we believed UNF was going to make their push into the top of the ASUN Conference, behind both FGCU and Liberty. UNF has a strong core with Jazz Bond, Rhetta Moore, Tiffany Tolbert, and Jaida Bond also transferred from UNA (Jazz’s sister). The Ospreys once again have struggled in ASUN Conference play, at the bottom of the division, but have the necessary height to give the Eagles trouble matchupwise. Jazz Bond is 6’4 and Emma Broermann is 6’3 so the Eagles will have to do most of their work from beyond the arc, to win this game.

FGCU is led offensively by 5’3 SR G TK Morehouse, who averages 14.6 ppg. UNF is led offensively by 6’4 R-SR F Jazz Bond, who averages 15.9 ppg. Head Coach Darrick Gibbs is in his seventh season leading UNF. Head Coach Karl Smesko needs the offense to show rhythm and flow to it, as the Eagles close in on the final week of ASUN Conference play. Multiple Eagles in double figures in scoring, will be key in this matchup with UNF. Getting Jazz and Emma in foul trouble could be a gamechanger, if FGCU is able to drive to the basket. The Eagles got back on track Thursday night vs KSU, and look to continue that trend in Jacksonville Saturday afternoon.

Prediction:

#22 FGCU 73 UNF 61