#23 FGCU/LIBERTY PREVIEW

Lynchburg, VA- #23 FGCU (24-2, 13-1 ASUN) faces Liberty University (25-2, 13-1 ASUN) in a winner takes all for the #1 seed in the ASUN Conference, heading into the ASUN Tournament.

Stats (#23 FGCU):

#23 FGCU averages 79.2 ppg, shoots 43.7% (741/1694) from the field, and 32.4% (311/961) from beyond the arc. The Eagles average 36.0 team rebounds per game. #23 FGCU dishes out 17.7 assists, 10.2 steals, and 2.9 blocks per game. The Eagles average 11.7 team turnovers per game.

Stats (LU):

Liberty averages 67.0 ppg, shoots 45.5% (694/1525) from the field, and 31.7% (151/476) from beyond the arc. The Flames average 42.2 team rebounds per game. Liberty dishes out 16.4 assists, 6.1 steals, and 4.0 blocks per game. The Flames average 15.4 team turnovers per game.

Players To Watch For (#23 FGCU):

5’3 SR G TK Morehouse 14.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg

5’7 GR G Kendall Spray 11.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg

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

Players To Watch For (LU):

6’3 R-JR C Mya Berkman 12.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg

6’2 R-SR F Bridgette Rettstatt 11.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg

5’9 R-JR G Dee Brown 7.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg

Overview:

The Eagles/Flames rematch is finally here, and you better believe Liberty wants to right the ship, as FGCU is their only ASUN Conference loss on the season. #23 FGCU defeated Liberty University 73-69 on January 15th, and it was an instant classic from Alico Arena. Liberty has won ten games in a row since the loss to the Eagles. Head Coach Carey Green faces off with Head Coach Karl Smesko, and when you put two of the best minds in college basketball together, you get one great matchup.

FGCU will be without Kierstan Bell for the 9th consecutive game, and the Eagles are 8-1 since she has been sidelined. The height of Liberty’s frontcourt is a huge advantage for the Flames. Mya Berkman (6’3), and Bridgette Rettstatt (6’2) provide massive size for an ASUN Conference team, and the Eagles will have to be able to shoot the ball from behind the arc, to keep up with the Flames, if they are unable to penetrate in the paint. Expect Liberty to try to limit TK Morehouse, like many of the other ASUN Conference teams have done, leaving Kendall Spray, and other players with open looks from beyond the arc. Seneca Hackley (3.6 ppg) scored 14 points vs KSU and could be another player that will be counted on in her role. This matchup will be an incredible matchup between both teams who enter play with bye weeks, for the first round of the ASUN Conference tournament.