#1 FGCU vs #3 STETSON ASUN SEMIFINALS PREVIEW

Fort Myers, FL- #1 seed and #20 nationally ranked FGCU (27-2), faces #3 seed Stetson University (20-11) Wednesday night at 7 PM, in the ASUN Conference Semifinals from Alico Arena.

Stats (#3 SU):

The Hatters average 63.1 ppg, shoot 40.8% (714/1748) from the field, and 28.6% (153/535) from beyond the arc. Stetson averages 38.4 team rebounds per game. The Hatters dish out 12.3 assists, 9.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game. Stetson averages 16.9 team turnovers per game.

Stats (#1 FGCU):

The Eagles average 78.6 ppg, shoot 43.6% (815/1869) from the field, and 32.4% (342/1054) from beyond the arc. FGCU averages 35.2 team rebounds per game. The Eagles dish out 17.7 assists, 10.2 steals, and 3.1 blocks per game. FGCU averages 11.3 team turnovers per game.

Players To Watch For (#3 SU):

5’11 SR G Yazz Wazeerud-Din 12.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg

6’0 GR F Tatiana Streun 11.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg

5’9 JR G Jamiya Turner 8.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg

Players To Watch For (#1 FGCU):

6’1 JR G Kierstan Bell 23.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg

5’3 SR G TK Morehouse 15.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg

5’7 GR G Kendall Spray 11.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg

Overview:

#1 FGCU overcame a tough test in the ASUN Quarterfinals vs #5 UNF, ultimately defeating the Ospreys, 71-60. The big three for FGCU: Spray (24 pts), Bell (22 pts), and Morehouse (14 pts), were the difference in the game for the Eagles. #3 Stetson went on the road, and defeated #2 UNA 64-53, with Ayanna Dublin scoring a game high 18 points to lead the Hatters. Yazz Wazeerud-Din also finished in double figures in scoring with 14 points.

#1 FGCU and #3 Stetson University split the season series, with the Eagles beating the Hatters, 78-41, on 1/19, and Stetson upsetting the Eagles, 58-55, on 2/12. Kierstan Bell wasn’t available for the game on 2/12, but is back in the lineup for the Eagles, and back to playing the way she always has.

Yazz Wazeerud-Din leads the Hatters offensively averaging 12.3 ppg, and Kierstan Bell leads the Eagles offensively, averaging 23.3 ppg. X’s and O’s are everything, when Head Coach Karl Smesko faces Head Coach Lynn Bria, so it’s always a treat when these two great ASUN Conference head coaches face off.

Prediction:

#1 FGCU 80 #3 SU 68