#1 FGCU VS #5 UNF ASUN QUARTERFINALS PREVIEW

Fort Myers, FL- #1 seed and #22 FGCU (26-2) faces #5 seed UNF (13-16) in the ASUN Conference Quarterfinals Sunday afternoon at 2 PM from Alico Arena.

Stats (UNF):

#5 UNF averages 65.8 ppg, shoots 42.8% (715/1669) from the field, and 30.8% (200/649) from beyond the arc. The Ospreys average 35.7 team rebounds per game. UNF dishes out 14.7 assists, 8.1 steals, and 4.6 blocks per game. The Ospreys average 17.0 team turnovers per game.

Stats (FGCU):

#1 FGCU averages 78.8 ppg, shoots 43.8% (788/1800) from the field, and 32.5% (332/1021) from beyond the arc. The Eagles average 35.2 team rebounds per game. FGCU dishes out 17.8 assists, 10.2 steals, and 3.0 blocks per game. The Eagles average 11.5 team turnovers per game.

Players To Watch For (UNF):

6’4 R-SR F Jazz Bond 15.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg

5’8 5th G Rhetta Moore 12.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg

6’3 JR F Emma Broermann 9.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg

Players To Watch For (FGCU):

6’1 JR G Kierstan Bell 23.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg

5’3 SR G TK Morehouse 15.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg

5’7 GR G Kendall Spray 10.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg

Overview:

#1 FGCU heads into the ASUN Tournament looking to win another championship, and first opponent standing in the way of them is the UNF Opsreys. Head Coach Darrick Gibbs is in his 7th season leasing UNF. 6’4 R-SR F Jazz Bond averages 15.3 ppg, leads the Ospreys offensively, and also was named ASUN First Team All-Conference, and ASUN Co-Defensive Player of the Year. The height of 6’4 Jazz Bond and 6’3 Emma Broermann favors the Ospreys in the post, but with a healthy Kierstan Bell, the Eagles tallest player at 6’1, can defend Jazz. Head Coach Karl Smesko looks to win another ASUN Championship in his 20th year with FGCU. The Eagles are led offensively by Kierstan Bell who averages 23.4 ppg. Bell was named ASUN Player of the Year, and ASUN First Team All-Conference, while TK Morehouse was named ASUN First Team All-Conference, and Karl Smesko was named ASUN Conference Coach of the Year.

#5 UNF beat #4 Lipscomb University 60-42 in the ASUN Conference First Round Wednesday night from Allen Arena. Jazz Bond led the Ospreys offensively with a double double, scoring 11 points, while grabbing 10 rebounds. FGCU beat UNF 88-57 at home on 1/5, and on the road 63-52 on 2/19.

Prediction:

#1 FGCU 81 #5 UNF 60