Friday, December 18, 2009

MACON, Ga. – The Atlantic Sun Conference Women’s Basketball Game of the Week fea¬tures a meeting between two of the top scorers in the league as FGCU, led by Adrianne McNally hosts USC Upstate and Chelsea McMillan, at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday from Alico Arena. The game airs on A-Sun.TV.

USC Upstate owns the second-best offense in the A-Sun, averaging 73.3 points per game, while FGCU boasts the stingiest defense, holding opponents to 62.2 points per game. Sophomore Chelsea McMillan paces the A-Sun’s top-scoring offense this year, averaging 13.8 points per game, the sixth best mark in the league. Additionally the forward grabs 9.9 rebounds per game, good for third in the A-Sun. This season, McMillan has double-doubles against North Greenville, at Virginia and at South Carolina State.

In FGCU’s last contest, senior forward Adrianne McNally scored a game-high 21 points against No. 21 Michigan State on Sunday, the most points by any FGCU player ever versus a ranked opponent. McNally has already posted two 20-point performances, both in Preseason WNIT action at New Mexico, and on Sunday at Michigan State. FGCU ranks as one of five schools in Division I making at least 10 3-point field goals per game (Iowa State, Morehead State, Charleston Southern and Fresno State). Sophomore guard Eglah Griffin shares the honor as the league’s top 3-point shooter, connecting on 48.1 percent of her tries. The Eagles own a 30-3 record at Alico Arena since 2007 and a 107-9 mark since the arena was built.

In Sunday’s game against the nationally-ranked Spartans, McNally’s 21 points led four Eagles in double-figures, while Griffin finished with 14 points and sophomore guard Kelsey Jacobson’s 12. Senior forward Chelsea Lyles also finished in double figures for FGCU with 12 points, while junior guard Shavonne Butler added seven points in just ten minutes on 3-of-3 shooting.

USC Upstate enters the weekend after falling to Stetson, 69-61, on Thursday evening in the Spartans’ Atlantic Sun Conference season opener. Wallace finished with 19 points as the sophomore guard hit a season-high five 3-pointers in 11 attempts. Sophomore guard Lesley Daniel added 10 points, four assists and four blocks, while senior guard Koko Richardson added five points and four assists. Freshman forward Lauren McRoberts contributed six points and a career-high 11 rebounds and freshman guard Tee’Ara Copney finished with seven points, three assists and four steals.

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The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Players to Watch
* Eglah Griffin, FGCU – As the A-Sun’s top sharp-shooter, Griffin connects on 48.1 percent of her tries. The Fort Myers, Fla. native leads an Eagles quartet of junior guard Shannon Murphy, Griffin, and Jacobson amongst the A-Sun in three-pointers hit, as the Eagles average just over 10 threes per game.

* Adrianne McNally, FGCU – McNally scored a game-high 21 points to lead four players in double-figures for FGCU on Sunday at No. 21 Michigan State. The senior forward averages 12.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, good for the 10th spot in the league for scoring and 20th in rebounding. McNally (3.9), senior guard Brittany Brown (1.1) and Murphy (3.7) also rank in the top-five for the Eagles in assists per game.

* Lesley Daniel, USC Upstate – Daniel added 10 points, four assists and four blocks on Thursday evening. With the sophomore guard’s point tally at Stetson, Daniel became the 93rd player in school history to reach 200 career points.

* Chelsea McMillan, USC Upstate –McMillan averages 13.8 points per game and 9.9 rebounds per game. The senior forward stands 21 points shy from becoming the 33rd player in school history to reach 500 career points.

* Kendra Wallace, USC Upstate – Wallace has notched five or more 3-pointers in five career games, including her season-high five 3-pointers in 11 attempts at Stetson.