02/04/2025

FORT MYERS, Fla.—The Florida Gulf Coast University women’s basketball team returns home looking to rebound from a 60-55 road loss to the University of North Alabama when it hosts Atlantic Sun Conference opponent Bellarmine University at 7 p.m. Thursday at Alico Arena.

FGCU (10-11, 6-4 ASUN) held a 49-48 lead against North Alabama with 4:54 remaining in the game following a layup by Shameir Quimby. However, the Lions answered just 16 seconds later with a 3-pointer from Alexsandra Alvarado, and FGCU was unable to regain the lead.

North Alabama held a slight edge on the boards, outrebounding FGCU 31-29. The Lions also outpaced the Eagles from beyond the arc (6-5) and at the free-throw line (12-8). Additionally, North Alabama converted 22 FGCU turnovers into 13 points

Sinai Douglas led the Eagles scoring 16 points on 6-for-13 shooting, including two 3-pointers. Jalei Pillow added 14 points in the effort.

Douglas leads FGCU in total scoring this season with 231 points, averaging 11 points per game. Nay Staton is second with 222 points and Cerina Rolle is third with 146 points. The trio is averaging a combined 28.5 points per game. Staton leads the team on the glass with 119 rebounds. Douglas has a team-high 69 assists and 33 steals, while Anna Mortag has 14 blocks.

The Eagles last played the Knights on Feb. 6, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky. FGCU won that game 74-57. Rolle played 30 minutes finishing with eight points, six rebounds and one assist.

Bellarmine (2-21, 0-10 ASUN) enters the game after a 69-39 road loss to the ASUN opponent the University of West Georgia. The Knights cut the Wolves’ lead to 29-24 with 2:13 remaining in the second quarter on a pair of free throws by Kayce Hyman but were unable to get any closer.

The Knights arrive as a “MASH unit” decimated by what the program calls an “epidemic of injuries.” The team was forced to add six walk-ons in January—including Mariah Daniels, Olivia Pifer, and Maddie Janszen—just to field a lineup. In recent outings, the Knights have suited up as few as four scholarship players from their original roster.

West Georgia outshot Bellarmine 12-1 from beyond the arc and scored 33 points off 27 Knights’ turnovers.

Haya Abdel Aal led Bellarmine with 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Hyman finished with 13 points.

Hyman leads the Knights with 211 total points this season, followed by Ava Smith with 187. Triniti Ralston remains third in total scoring with 153 points despite not having played since Dec. 7 due to injury. Her absence, along with that of Rose Jamison (141 points), who has been out of the lineup since Jan. 3, has left a significant void in the Knights’ scoring production. Andrea Chiquemba has stepped into a larger role in their absence, recording 139 points on the season.

Patricia Sherrill leads the Knights on the glass with 88 rebounds, while Smith has a team-high 42 assists. Ralston still holds a team-high 19 steals, followed by Hyman with 16. Abdel Aal has 16 blocks.

To secure a win at Alico Arena, FGCU must prioritize ball security and efficiency to move past the turnover issues that plagued them in the loss to North Alabama. The Eagles hold a significant advantage in field goal percentage (43.5%) compared to Bellarmine’s league-low (32.3%), meaning FGCU wins if they simply maximize their total possessions by limiting giveaways.

Defensively, the goal will be to suffocate a Knights offense that is already missing its primary playmaker in Triniti Ralston; by forcing the ball out of the hands of Kayce Hyman and Ava Smith, FGCU can dictate the tempo and use their superior depth to wear down a Bellarmine roster that has struggled with a shortened rotation. If the Eagles can control the glass and prevent second-chance points for the Knights, their transition offense should provide more than enough cushion to get back into the win column.