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NEWARK, NJ--The No. 8 seeded NJIT Highlanders will visit No. 1 FGCU in the ASUN Quarterfinals on Friday at 7pm inside Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Florida.
The Highlanders (4-25) closed the regular season with a 74-67 loss at USC Upstate on February 24, while FGCU (27-4) defeated Stetson, 74-60.
NJIT is 0-2 all-time in the ASUN Tournament, falling to No. 1 FGCU in 2015-16 and No. 4 Kennesaw State in 2016-17.
All-Time Series
FGCU leads the all-time series, 8-0. In the last meeting, FGCU topped NJIT, 89-43, in Newark, NJ.
The first time the two teams met dates back to March 6, 2008 in Edinburg, Texas at the Division I Independent Tournament. The Eagles won 75-63.
Watch Live on ESPN3
The game can be seen live on ESPN3 (all rounds of ASUN Tournament).
A simple way to find ESPN3 is on NJIT's official athletics website, http://www.njithighlanders.com.
Near the middle of the home page under the headlines section, an upcoming events calendar lists scheduled NJIT contests. After finding the event, click the camera icon to the left of the event listing. That brings you to an ESPN3 portal where you can access the desired program.
Scouting the Eagles
FGCU has produced eight straight seasons with at least 25 wins. With its 27 wins, the Eagles are tied with Baylor and Mercer for the fifth most wins in the nation.
The Eagles received 25 votes in this week's USA Today Coaches Poll, which is the 27th most in the nation. Three weeks ago, the Eagles were ranked 25th, marking the first time the program had been ranked in one of the two major polls since March 2015.
FGCU enters the ASUN Tournament with a 15-0 record inside Alico Arena this season.
The Eagles, who have won the last seven contests, are led by Rosemarie Julien, who is averaging 13.6ppg while shooting 45.3 percent from the field. Her 13.6ppg ranks sixth in the ASUN.
China Dow is the other Eagles averaging double-digits at 11.3ppg while ranking second on the boards at 5.7rpg. Dow's 38.4 percent from the three-point arc, ranks in the top five in the ASUN.
Guard Taylor Gradinjan paces the Eagles with 77 three-pointers made and ranks second in three-point field goals made in a game (2.6), behind ASUN leader
Kelly Guarino (2.9).
Jessica Cattani tops the ASUN in three-point field goal percentage at 44.4 (48-108). Tytionia Adderly ranks second in rebounds per game at 9.1 while averaging 7.4ppg.
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ESPN3's Mike Ventola Sits Down with Coach Steve Lanpher and Previews ASUN Quarterfinals vs. No. 1 FGCU
Scouting the Highlanders
The Highlanders enter Friday's ASUN Quarterfinal with a 4-25 overall mark after finishing 2-12 in the ASUN. NJIT swept the regular season series from North Florida, marking the first series sweep since joining the ASUN in 2015-16.
Senior
Kelly Guarino the team leader in points at 12.3ppg, has led the Highlanders in the last three contests, tying her career-best mark at North Florida on February 17 with a 24-point performance. Guarino combined for back-to-back 19-point games at Jacksonville (Feb. 19) and USC Upstate (Feb. 24).
Her 58 three-point field goals made, tops the Highlanders, ranking first in the ASUN in three-pointers made per game (2.9) and second in three-point field goal percentage (39.5).
The 5-foot-6 guard has scored in double-figures in the last 10-out-of-11 games and netted 15 three-pointers in the last three games. Her 177 career three-pointers rank second all-time in the NJIT D1 era and her 35.6 shooting percentage from behind the arc ranks first.
Tatianna Torres is second in scoring, averaging 11.2ppg and rebounds (5.2rpg) while leading the Highlanders in assists (93) and steals (50). Torres ranks fifth in the ASUN in steals and ninth in assists.
Taj Lewis, who ranks third in the ASUN in field goal percentage, is shooting 50.7 percent while averaging 8.6ppg.Â
Freshman
Ellyn Stoll, who has come on strong in the final three games, is tied for third on the team in scoring at 8.6ppg. Stoll has scored in double-digits in the last three-out-of-four contests, including 15-point performances at North Florida (Feb 17) and Jacksonville (Feb. 19).
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