Fort Myers, FL- FGCU (0-0) faces Old Dominion University (0-0), to begin their non-conference schedule, and the 2022-23 season, Monday night at 7 PM from Alico Arena.
Stats:
ODU (22-23 stats):
The Monarchs averaged 63.8 ppg, and shot 39.9% (810/2029) from the field, and 28.0% (152/542) from beyond the arc. ODU averaged 37.6 team rebounds per game. The Monarchs dished out 11.8 assists, 10.6 steals, and 3.9 blocks per game last season. ODU averaged 15.0 team turnovers per game.
FGCU (22-23 stats):
The Eagles averaged 78.1 ppg, and shot 43.8% (927/2116) from the field, and 32.9% (393/1193) from beyond the arc. FGCU averaged 34.7 team rebounds per game. The Eagles dished out 17.7 assists, 9.9 steals, and 3.3 blocks per game last season. FGCU averaged 11.2 team turnovers per game.
3 Players To Watch For (ODU):
5’11 SR F Amari Young #23
-Played in and started all 34 games
-Averaged 9.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while adding 1.6 steals per contest
-Scored in double figures in 19 games, with a season high 17 points against North Texas in the Conference USA Tournament
6’3 SR F Brianna Jackson #12
-Brianna played in 34 games with 21 starts
-Averaged 7.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game
-Was second on the team in field goal percentage (.478)
-She was fifth in the league averaging 1.44 blocked shots per contest
-Jackson scored in double figures 10 times last season for the Monarchs
5’8 GR G Makayla Dickens #2
-Graf transfer from Boston College
-Fourth on the team in scoring (9.2)
-Ranked 13th in the ACC in 3-pointers per game (1.74) and assists
-One of two players in the ACC, and the nation that came off the bench to average at least 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and hit at least 50 3-pointers
-Makayla’s numbers as the Eagles’ top reserve led to an ACC Sixth Man of the Year nomination
3 Players To Watch For (FGCU):
5’3 SR G TK Morehouse #4
-Averaged 14.7 ppg last season for the Eagles.
-3rd in scoring last season in ASUN Conference.
-First Team All-ASUN, ASUN All Tournament Team last season.
6’0 SR F Uju Ezeudu #42
-Led Denver University in scoring (17.9 ppg), and rebounds per game (8.0 rpg).
-3rd leading scorer (17.9 ppg), and 4th leading rebounder (8.0 rpg) in the Summit league last year.
-All-Summit 2nd Team (’20-’21, ’21-’22), Two time Summit League Women’s Basketball Player of the Week
5’9 5th G Sophia Stiles #2
-Averaged 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists for Montana last season
-She scored in double figures 17 times including the season’s final 10 games for the Grizzlies
Overview:
FGCU faces an Old Dominion team that won 24 games this past season in Conference USA (24-10), and played two games in the WNIT, defeating Towson in the first round, and losing to Columbia in the 2nd round. The Monarchs are led by Head Coach Delisha Mlton-Jones, who has been with the program since 2020. ODU has a balanced backcourt and massive frontcourt, with 6’3 SR F Brianna Jackson (7.3 ppg), and 6’2 JR C Jada Duckett (4.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg), who transferred from Miami (OH).
ASUN Preseason Player of the Year TK Morehouse, returns for her senior season and will look to keep the Eagles on pace for another ASUN Conference regular season, and post season championship. While Kierstan Bell, Kendall Spray, Kerstie Phills, and others have moved on from the team, the Eagles brought in 5’8 R-JR G Alyza Winston (MSU), 5’9 5th G Sophia Stiles (Montana), 5’8 R-JR G Brylee Bartram (Vanderbilt), and 6’0 F Uju Ezeudu (Denver). Strong guard play has been the catalyst to winning for FGCU, but the addition of Uju Ezeudu in the post we believe can be a game changer for the team, since she is a force both offensively, and defensively. The Eagles will play a competitive non-conference schedule with games vs Duke, #2 Stanford, etc, and FGCU will need a strong post player to defend the 6’2+ players that teams like ODU will have on their roster. This will be a competitive game between the Eagles and Monarchs, and Alico Arena will be rocking, as we begin another year covering this team!
Eagles Nest Cast 
Leave a Reply