Monday, March 21, 2011

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The A-Sun regular season champion FGCU women’s basketball team returns to the court on Monday, March 21 to host the Gators of Florida in a WNIT second round matchup. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m., with the winner of the game taking on Charlotte in the third round.

FGCU has earned an automatic bid in four consecutive Postseason WNIT’s. The Eagles are 3-3 all-time in the WNIT, including 3-0 at home. Prior to Friday’s win over Drexel, the Blue and Green defeated George Washington (97-94 2OT; 08-09: WNIT 1st Rd) and USF (67-65; 07-08: WNIT 1st Rd) in Alico Arena.

FGCU is 5-8 all-time against BCS foes after picking up a wins over BIG EAST opponent Seton Hall, ACC foe Virginia Tech and Big Ten opponent Indiana this season. Four of the Eagles’ five wins over BCS opponents have come at Alico Arena.

FGCU has not lost a home game in Alico Arena since January 8, 2009 against East Tennessee State University. FGCU’s 73-67 win over Drexel (Mar. 18) bumped the Eagles home win streak to 42 games. FGCU’s 42-game home winning streak is the third longest streak in the nation behind UConn and Stanford.

Sarah Hansen, Shannon Murphy and Kelsey Jacobson have combined to account for 52.7 percent (37.6 points per game) of FGCU’s scoring. The trio is also shooting .443 (412-of-929) from the floor and .367 (173-of-472) from long distance.

FGCU has a 137-9 all-time record at home. Since moving to Division I, the Eagles have compiled a 59-3 home record. Alico Arena has become one of the most intimidating places for opposing teams in all of Division I women’s basketball. The Eagles have accumulated a 59-3 record on their home court since moving to Division I, good for a .952 winning percentage and the highest all-time winning percentage at home. Tennessee, who has a .944 winning percentage (340-20), ranks second all-time in winning percentage at home (Thompson-Boling Arena).

FGCU’s three-point prowess has been the program’s calling card from day one and the 2010-11 version of the Eagles is no different. Through 31 games, FGCU leads the nation with an average of 10.9 threes per game, a whole trifecta in front of second place Fresno State (9.7). As a team, FGCU has drained double-digit threes in 15 games this season.

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