Saturday, November 19, 2011

MACON, Ga. - Twenty Atlantic Sun Women's Basketball games are slated over for play during the next seven days including four on ASun.TV. On Saturday, FGCU hosts Michigan State in hopes for the program's six win against a BCS foe, while Kennesaw State and Jacksonville also play on their home courts.

Only five of the 20 contests this week will be played on A-Sun hardwood as Stetson hosts Miami (Ohio) on Friday, Nov. 25th and USC Upstate welcomes Norfolk State on Monday, Nov. 21st.

• Stetson, the 2011 A-Sun Tournament Champions, own the best record in the A-Sun early in the year at 2-1. The Hatters are outscoring their opponents by an average of four points per contest.
• FGCU welcomes Michigan State to Alico Arena on Saturday. Last season, the Eagles have captured five wins all-time against BCS foes - three of which came last season.
• Despite a 0-2 record to start the season, ETSU still leads the A-Sun in several team categories. The Lady Bucs are best in the conference for free-throw percentage (.847), defensive field-goal percentage (.366) and defensive rebounds/game (30.5).
• Mercer’s Sharmesia Smith leads the Bears in rebounds per game at 8.0, which ranks sixth-best in the A-Sun. Sophomore Briana Williams is averaging 12.7 PPG - 11th best in the A-Sun.
• Early in the season, Belmont’s Haley Nelson is already tearing up opponents as the senior has earned three double-doubles in only four contests. She leads the A-Sun amongst active players with career double-doubles at 18.
• Through three games this season, Lipscomb already leads the A-Sun in three-point field goal percentage at .378 with 17 three-pointers so far. Last season, the Lady Bisons ranked third in the conference at .318.
• Kennesaw State’s junior forward Sametria Gideon is off to a fast start this season. In the season opener, she scored a career high 23 points and in the next contest against Gardner-Webb she tallied her 17th career double-double.
• In three games this season, USC Upstate has been led in scoring by three different players. Tee’Ara Copney with 16 vs. North Greenville, Kim Roach with 18 vs. North Carolina and Hannah Ohl with 13 against Vanderbilt. Four different players have also led the Spartans in rebounding.
• After three contests, North Florida’s Brittany Kirkland has already climbed six spots in the A-Sun record books for career points. Kirkland entered the season with 1,200 points and in 46th place. She now sits at 1,240 and in 40th.
• Senior Crystall Bell is tied for the conference lead in rebounds per contest after the games. Her 10.0 rebounding average is tied with FGCU’s Sarah Hansen and Kennesaw State’s Sametria Gideon.