GAME DAY INFORMATION
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DATE: Jan. 13, 2024
TIME: 2:00 PM |
LOCATION: Edmunds Center
DeLand, Fla. |
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GAME DAY LINK
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LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO
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THE LEAD
The Stetson Hatters return home to the Edmunds Center after taking both of their first two conference games on the road to extend their win streak to four straight. The Hatters will host the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles at home for their Green Out game on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 2:00 PM. All the action will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats available on www.gohatters.com.
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the 40th meeting between the two in-state conference rivals. Through their previous 49 games, the Hatters trail in the series with a 5-34 record. On the road, Stetson is 2-15 against the Eagles while they are 2-17 when hosting. The Hatters will look for revenge after falling to the Eagles 66-48 in their last match-up during the ASUN Quarterfinal last season on March 5, 2023. In their extended history, the two first met on Jan. 12, 2008 when the Hatters dropped the inaugural game 44-65. Stetson will look to snap a four game skid to the Eagles and win their first game in DeLand since the 2010-2011 season.
SCOUTING THE HATTERS (7-9, 2-0 ASUN)
Stetson approaches the weekend with an overall record of 7-9 after winning their first two conference games on the road against North Florida and Jacksonville, extending their win streak to four games. The pair of wins also marked their first two wins away from the Edmunds Center, where the Hatters will return holding a 5-1 home record.
Leading the Hatters on offense over the past week was
Jaelyn Talley, who racked up 26 points on 11-of-18 shooting while pulling in 13 rebounds, 7 of which were on offense. The sophomore forward has now reached 10+ points and 5+ rebounds in four consecutive games.
Also reaching double-figures in the last outing were
Khamya McNeal, who led the team with 12 points, and
Quentarra Mitchell, who came off the bench. Like Talley, Mitchell has also reached 10+ points in each of her last four games, including a season-high 15 points at North Florida. The graduate forward also pulled in a clutch offensive rebound in the final seconds against the Ospreys while hitting three of four free throws to secure the win.
So far this season, the offensive output for Stetson has been fronted by Turner, who maintains a team-leading 175 points, 10.9 per game. Turner showcases a 43.8 percent shooting accuracy from the field (70 of 160) and a 70 percent clip from the free-throw line, 11th highest in the ASUN. The redshirt-senior has reached milestones such as 500 career rebounds and 1,000 career points as she has racked up double-figures for the tenth time this season. Over her last four games, she had also racked up 31 rebounds and 17 assists.
Jordan Peete, with 12 starts in 15 appearances this season, averages 8.8 points per game, making 15 of 58 shots from beyond the arc. She trails only McNeal, who has hit 16 three-pointers including three shots from beyond the arc against Valparaiso. The latter has averaged a team second-high 9.0 points per game on 33.1 percent shooting from the field.
Promise Keshi leads the team in steals, contributing 21 steals, 14th most in the conference. Kunzwiler has recorded six blocks, tied for the most on the team with freshman forward
Sophia Fontaine. The former has blocked a shot in each of the last five games including two in the win over Flagler while the team recorded a season-high six blocks in the win over UNF.
Talley has excelled on the glass, leading the Hatters with 114 total rebounds, 7.1 per game. Her 64 offensive rebounds rank most in the ASUN and she ranks first in total boards, as well. The sophomore forward is also tied for 13th most in all of NCAA.
Skylar Treadwell has pulled in 86 rebounds on the season after grabbing 21 against High Point earlier this season.
As a team, Stetson averages 58.7 points per game, as opposed to a conference third fewest average points allowed (60.4), on 351-948 shooting from the field (37%) and 67-303 from three-point range. They exhibit a conference fourth-best free-throw percentage of 68.5 percent (170-248) and boast an ASUN second-most 597 total rebounds, 37.3 rebounds per game. Stetson has forced opponents into 277 turnovers and capitalized on them with 12.9 points off turnovers.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES (12-4, 2-0 ASUN)
FGCU currently holds a record of 12-4, sitting second place in the ASUN Conference standings after winning their last five games. They also started conference play with a pair of wins over Jacksonville and North Florida but their signature win so far this season was a 65-64 win over #18 UNC in the Gulf Coast Showcase on Nov. 26.
In the 2023-24 Preseason Coaches' Poll, the coaches selected FGCU to win the ASUN with 142 points and 10 first place votes after finishing the prior season with a 17-1 conference record. They were also selected first in the media poll with 38 votes for first. FGCU is coming off a 33-4 campaign that saw Karl Smesko's squad claim the program's 13th regular-season league title,10th ASUN Championship banner and ninth NCAA Tournament berth.
Looking to build off of last season, the Eagles average 73.8 points per game and have outscored their opponents by an average of 17.7 points.
As a team, they have a shooting percentage of 43.1 percent from the field (413-958) and 31 percent from beyond the arc (148-477). The Eagles are rebounding at an average of 37.1 per game with a +6.2 margin and distributing 14.3 assists.
On the defensive end, they allow opponents to shoot 41.1 percent from the field (331-806) and 35.5 percent from three-point range (88-248), 8th and 12th in the ASUN. The defense has also forced 306 turnovers, scoring 21.4 points off them, while tallying 151 steals and 34 blocks.
Fifth year shooter Uju Ezeudu, a Preseason All-ASUN Team honoree, has averaged 13 points per game while starting 15 games this season. The Ohio native is also the team's leading rebounder, pulling in 104 total rebounds or 6.9 per game. On defense, Ezeudu leads the team with 31 steals and eight blocks.
Redshirt-junior Emani Jefferson has started six games in seven appearances, averaging 14.6 points per game including a 21-point performance against Jacksonville. The shooter won ASUN Newcomer of the Week for the week of Dec. 27 after averaging 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 45% from the floor in a 2-0 week for FGCU.
Maddie Antenucci and Dolly Cairns round out the double-figure scorers for the Eagles, the latter of the two has hit a team-high 29 shots from beyond the arc while dishing out an ASUN ninth-most 41 assists this season.
NEXT UP
Stetson will continue their home stand by hosting the Kennesaw State Owls for Fire and Ice Night/Black Out on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 7:00 PM. All the action will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available on www.gohatters.com.
