FGCU women postpone games against North Alabama, Liberty

The Florida Gulf Coast University women’s basketball team’s games at North Alabama on Jan. 2 and 3, and against Liberty on Jan. 9 and 10, have been postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Because of the 14-day quarantine period, the postponement includes FGCU’s Jan. 10 ESPNU game against Liberty. No rescheduled dates have been announced at this time.

The official ASUN opener for the Eagles will now be Jan. 16 and 17 at Bellarmine University, followed by the home opener against Lipscomb Jan. 23 and 24.

The women’s postponement follows the men’s, who announced Wednesday that their games against North Alabama and Liberty would also be postponed due to COVID-19. New dates for those games have not been set.

“I feel bad for our student-athletes that we won’t be able to compete over the next two weekends, including the opportunity to showcase our program on ESPNU, but we will take all the precautions and necessary steps to recover and stay safe over the next couple weeks in order to get back to action as soon as we’re able,” FGCU women’s head coach Karl Smesko said. “This is the unfortunate reality we are in, and we appreciate all the work our Athletics Sports Medicine unit, the University medical staff and the Florida Department of Health have done to keep our student-athletes and staff safe. We will undertake the appropriate measures so that we can return to play following the 14-day period.”

Currently ranked 33rd in votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll, the FGCU women were most recently in action Dec. 21 at FIU, where the Eagles produced the program’s 500th all-time victory.

“We need to remain diligent, safe and responsible,” ASUN commissioner Ted Gumbart said. “Now is the time for extra care, so while disappointed that we are losing opportunities for competition, we recognize we are doing the right thing. Thanks to all our team members – administrators, athletic trainers and medical personnel who are guiding through this difficult time.”