EKU/FGCU PREVIEW

Fort Myers, FL- FGCU (18-3, 6-1 ASUN) faces EKU (12-8, 5-2 ASUN), Thursday night at 7 PM, from Alico Arena.

Stats (EKU):

EKU averages 78.8 ppg, shoots 42.6% (567/1332) from the field, and 33.3% (166/499) from beyond the arc. The Colonels average 39.1 team rebounds per game. EKU dishes out 17.6 assists, 9.4 steals, and 3.1 blocks per game. EKU averages 15.3 team turnovers per game.

Stats (FGCU):

FGCU averages 77.1 ppg, shoots 46.6% (583/1250) from the field, and 36.5% (233/639) from beyond the arc. The Eagles average 33.4 team rebounds per game. FGCU dishes out 16.7 assists, 8.5 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game. FGCU averages 13.2 team turnovers per game.

3 Players To Watch For (EKU):

5’11 R-SR F Antwainette Walker 21.6 ppg, 9.9 rpg

While at Marquette (Redshirt Junior season):

-Appeared in 28 games, averaging 4.7 points and 3.0 rebounds on the season

5’8 R-JR G Marissa Mackins 14.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg

While at UNF (Junior year)

-ASUN ALL-CONFERENCE 1st Team

-Averaged 14.4 ppg

5’10 GR G Danielle Rainey 12.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg

While at Eastern Michigan (Redshirt Senior year):

-Started in 16 of EMU’s 27 games on the season

-Averaged 9.6 ppg and 2.6 rpg

3 Players To Watch For (FGCU):

5’3 5th G TK Morehouse 16.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg

5’8 R-JR G Alyza Winston 13.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg

6’0 5th G Sha Carter 11.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg

Overview:

The Eagles will look to get back to their winning ways as they face EKU. The Colonels are currently on a two game winning streak, and have wins this season over Appalachian State, Morehead State, Rider, Midway, Army, Union, Alice Lloyd, Kennesaw State, Stetson, Bellarmine, UNF, and Jacksonville. Their setbacks have come against Evansville, Marist, #23 Tennessee, Miami (OH), NKU, Boston College, UCA, and Bellarmine. Antwainette Walker leads EKU offensively, averaging 21.6 ppg. She is one of many transfers to join the Colonels this season. Marissa Mackins (14.7 ppg) also transferred to EKU, and that name may sound familiar, since she previously played at UNF. Head Coach Greg Todd in his second season leading the Colonels, and EKU is his alma mater, where he graduated in 1983.

The Eagles lost a heart breaker in overtime to Liberty Saturday night, and it’s easy to know that FGCU will be up to the task of getting back on track in ASUN Conference play vs EKU Saturday night. TK Morehouse continues to lead the Eagles offensively, and is averaging 16.4 ppg. FGCU is getting offense from so many players, and when you try to defend TK, you still have to worry about Alyza Winston (13.8 ppg), Sha Carter (11.4 ppg), and Sophia Stiles (7.8 ppg, and 24 points vs Liberty). FGCU is going to have to find a way to limit Walker in the post, and in general since she is having such a strong offensive season. Mackins (14.7 ppg) and Rainey (12.8 ppg) also are impact players for EKU, and we can expect Head Coach Karl Smesko to have a game plan in place to try to hold EKU under their average of 78.8 ppg.