GAME DAY INFORMATION
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DATE: Jan. 20, 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 will round out their home stand after dropping their last two games against FGCU and Kennesaw State. Following the pair of losses, the Hatters sit at an even .500 in conference play after defeating North Florida and Jacksonville to kick off the ASUN slate. The Hatters will host the Queens University of Charlotte Royals at 2:00 PM on Saturday, Jan. 20 at the historic Edmunds Center. All the action will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available on www.gohatters.com.
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will only be the second meeting between the two programs. Last time they met was on Jan. 21, 2023 when the Royals took the inaugural game by the score of 77-75. Despite the loss,
Jaelyn Talley and
Khamya McNeal both racked up 20+ point games, which would be a season-high for both of them that year.
SCOUTING THE HATTERS (7-11, 2-2 ASUN)
Stetson approaches the weekend with an overall record of 7-11, having fell to Kennesaw State on Thursday night. After their four game win streak was snapped by FGCU on Saturday, the Hatters now look to break a two-game skid with the visiting Royals in town.
Leading the Hatters on offense in their last game was
Khamya McNeal, who tallied 10 points off the bench on 4-of-9 shooting. The redshirt-junior guard extended her assist streak to nine consecutive games with at least one assist.
So far this season, the offensive output for Stetson has been fronted by Turner, who maintains a team-leading 198 points, 11.0 per game. Turner showcases a 43.3 percent shooting accuracy from the field (77 of 178) and a 66.7 percent clip from the free-throw line. 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 11th time this season. On defense, she has recorded a steal in 14 games including three steals in Thursday's loss.
McNeal averages 9.1 points a game while making 11 starts in 18 appearances this season. The redshirt-junior has made 58-of-173 shot attempts, 33.5 percent from the field, including a team-high 18 three-pointers. McNeal has also contributed 33 assists while pulling in 2.7 rebounds per game.
Jordan Peete, with 14 starts in 17 appearances this season, averages 8.4 points per game, making 16 of 62 shots from beyond the arc. While hitting a three-pointer in 12 games this season, she trails only McNeal in shots made from a distance.
Turner leads the team in steals, contributing 23 steals after tallying 3 on Thursday while
Promise Keshi trails behind with 21. Kunzwiler has recorded seven blocks, most on the team, while Keshi,
Quentarra Mitchell,
Skylar Treadwell and freshman forward
Sophia Fontaine have each blocked six shots.
Talley has excelled on the glass, leading the Hatters with 120 total rebounds, 6.7 per game. Her 69 offensive rebounds rank second-most in the ASUN and she ranks sixth in total boards, as well. The sophomore forward is also tied for 15th most in all of NCAA.
Skylar Treadwell has pulled in 93 rebounds on the season after grabbing 21 against High Point earlier this season. Turner, who pulled in six boards in Thursday's loss has grabbed six or more boards in nine games this season.
As a team, Stetson averages 57.7 points per game, as opposed to a conference fourth fewest average points allowed (60.8), on 385-1037 shooting from the field (37.1%) and 72-327 from three-point range. They boast an ASUN sixth-most 652 total rebounds, 36.2 rebounds per game. Stetson has forced opponents into 311 turnovers and capitalized on them with 12.2 points off turnovers.
SCOUTING THE ROYALS (6-11, 0-4 ASUN)
Queens currently holds a record of 6-10, sitting 12th place in the ASUN Conference standings after dropping their first four conference games. Their season included tough opponents such as #12 Ole Miss and #1 LSU and includes wins over Winthrop and Gardner-Webb.
The Royals are still seeking their first ASUN win as they've started off 0-4 with losses to Kennesaw State, Jacksonville, North Florida and FGCU, while this weekend's game will be their third conference game away from home.
In the 2023-24 Preseason Coaches' Poll, the coaches selected Queens to finish in 12th with 23 points after finishing the prior season with a 3-15 conference record. Looking to build off of an 8-21 campaign last season, the Royals average 62.2 points per game and have been outscored by their opponents by an average of 4.1 points.
As a team, they have a shooting percentage of 37.7 percent from the field (402-1067) and 28.6 percent from beyond the arc (82-287). The Royals are rebounding at an average of 37.1 per game with a -2.6 margin and distributing 9.2 assists.
On the defensive end, they've allowed opponents to shoot 40.5 percent from the field (378-934) and 29.8 percent from three-point range (102-342), 7th and 3rd in the ASUN. The defense has also forced 335 turnovers, scoring 16.8 points off them, while tallying 165 steals and 34 blocks.
Much of the offense has been spearheaded by junior guard Nicole Gwynn, who is averaging 15.9 points per game in 17 starts. 44 of her 98 made field goals have come from beyond the arc and she has also recorded 21 assists and 26 steals while pulling in 3.5 rebounds per game. Gwynn has reached 20+ in five games this season including 26 at #1 LSU.
Sophomore forward Jordyn Weaver was named ASUN Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 3, the first such honor for the Royals since joining the conference. She posted her third double-double of the season against Gardner-Webb, finishing with a career-high 24 points and 11 rebounds on 70 percent shooting. She has started nine games in 17 appearances and has averaged 9.2 points per game while pulling in a team-high 7.8 rebounds per game.
Senior Guard Alexandria Johnson leads the team with 28 assists with Tameia Shaw following closely behind with 27. On defense, senior guard Adia Brisker has recorded 32 steals while sophomore center Hawa Balde has blocked a team-high 14 shots.
NEXT UP
Stetson will hit the road for a three-game trip starting with Austin Peay State. Tip-off for the game against the Governors is scheduled for 7:00 PM on Thursday, Jan. 25 at F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, TN.
