FORT MYERS, Fla. – After a banner two-year career with nationally-ranked FGCU, Kierstan Bell was selected as the 11th overall pick by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2022 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm on Monday night. The junior, who declared early for the WNBA Draft, became the first-ever Eagle to be selected in the first round and the highest draft pick overall in program history.
 Bell is the second player from FGCU to be taken in the WNBA Draft. Whitney Knight was selected as the No. 15 pick overall in the second round of the 2016 draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. She is also the first ASUN selection in the WNBA Draft since Knight in 2016 and the highest overall pick in league history.
Bell and North Florida’s Jazz Bond, who was picked 31st overall by the Dallas Wings, become the 8th and 9th draft picks in ASUN history.
“It will be an honor to play under head coach Becky Hammon – she’s a great coach and I’m ready to work for her and the Aces,” said Bell. “I’m grateful to have this opportunity and for all the support my family, my coaches, the staff, and all my teammates at FGCU have given me. FGCU has been a tremendous home over the last two years and I look forward to representing the Green and Blue at the highest level.”
Bell is a two-time winner of the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year award after being announced as this year’s recipient last week.
Following the season, Bell was also again named an Honorable Mention All-American by the Associated Press, the WBCA, and the USBWA for the second straight year.
 One of the most decorated players in program history, Bell helped the Eagles reach the NCAA Tournament Second Round after a thrilling win over fifth-seed/No. 16 ranked Virginia Tech in the first round. The Green and Blue also claimed both the ASUN Regular-Season and ASUN Tournament Championship titles en route to a 30-3 overall record.
Bell averaged 23.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game during her career at FGCU. She finished her collegiate career with 1,505 points in three seasons between FGCU and Ohio State along with 583 rebounds, 178 assists, 136 steals, and 130 blocks. She scored 1,179 points in her two years with the Green and Blue through 50 games.
Bell transferred to FGCU after her freshman year playing for Ohio State after being recruited as the No. 8 player in ESPN’s 2019 class rankings. Prior to her collegiate career, Bell became the first three-time recipient of Ms. Basketball in Ohio, joining LeBron James as the only other player to be named Ms. or Mr. Basketball three times in the state.
Kierstan Bell – Alliance, Ohio – Junior
Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year … AP All-America Honorable Mention … USBWA All-America Honorable Mention … ASUN Player of the Year … All-ASUN First Team … ASUN All-Tournament Team … ASUN Tournament MVP
Led FGCU to a 30-3 overall record, the ASUN Championship Title, and a NCAA Tournament Second Round appearance (just the third time advancing to the second round in program history) … Against LSU, Virginia Tech,
and Maryland averaged 22.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks … Scored 32 points and added 10 rebounds in win at LSU (currently No. 8 in the AP Poll and only loss in non-conference play) … In NCAA First Round against Virginia Tech, scored 22 points while adding 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists … Had 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals in NCAA Second Round against Maryland … Despite missing nine games due to knee surgery, her total points on the year (547) are more than any other player in the ASUN this season …
Her scoring average of 22.8 points per game leads the ASUN and would rank 5th nationally (doesn’t meet 75% threshold due to injury) … Came back from the surgery in FGCU’s final two games of the season (win at Liberty, win over Jacksonville) to average 23.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 blocks, 3.0 assists, and 2.5 steals in 30.4 minutes of play … In the two wins over Liberty during the season, averaged 24 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 steals …
Had five 30-plus games overall on the season highlighted by a season-high 39 (17-of-31 FG) against Tennessee Tech which were the second-most points for a game in FGCU history … Scored 28 points in double OT win over Michigan State … Had six double-doubles on the year and holds the FGCU record with 22 … Set the FGCU record for double-doubles with 24 for her career …
Also set the ASUN and FGCU record for most career ASUN Player of the Week honors (12) after earning the accolade four times this season before the surgery and once after … Reached both the 1,000 point career milestone this year (including her year at Ohio State) along with scoring 1,000 points in her two years at FGCU … Currently has 1,505 overall career points (80 games) including 1,179 points in two seasons at FGCU …
Has 583 career rebounds (7.3 rpg) overall, 178 assists, 136 steals, and 130 blocks … Was named the ASUN Preseason Player of the Year and a unanimous pick to the All-ASUN Preseason Team … Candidate for several national prestigious awards: The Wooden Award, the Naismith Player of the Year Award, Ann Meyers-Drysdale Award (Top 5), the Becky Hammon Player of the Year Award (Top 5, Winner), and The Wade Award.
For complete coverage of the women’s basketball program, follow the Eagles on Twitter and Instagram at @FGCU_WBB, on Facebook at /fgcuwbb and online at www.FGCUathletics.com. You can also sign-up to have news on FGCU women’s basketball or other programs delivered directly to your inbox by visiting www.fgcuathletics.com/email.
E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
IT TAKES A TEAMÂ to achieve our newest goal – a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff.
The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign – Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence. Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!
  SUPPORT THE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PROGRAM
Do you enjoy watching or following the FGCU women’s basketball program? Would you like to play a role in the growth of the program and help take it to heights never before experienced? If so, you can reach out to Director of Advancement, Matt Ring, about opportunities to make an impact on the experiences of our student-athletes. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by office phone at 239-745-4434.
COACH SMESKO
FGCU head coach Karl Smesko maintains a record of 610-128 (.826) overall in his career, which is the third-highest winning percentage among active Division I coaches behind only UConn’s Geno Auriemma and LSU’s Kim Mulkey. He has also led the Eagles to a 232-18 (.930) mark in ASUN regular season play and a 30-2 (.933) record in ASUN tournament play. Over the previous 10 seasons, he has guided FGCU to a 153-5 (.968) record in conference play with six undefeated seasons.
The 12-time ASUN Coach of the Year has led the program to 12-straight 25-win seasons and 18-consecutive 20-win campaigns, including 30-plus wins in five of the last eight years. On top of all that, the Eagles are 549-101 (.845) all-time since Smesko started the program in the 2002-03 season, and the Green and Blue’s .845 all-time winning percentage is the best in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history.
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics’ charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/adminservices/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
  ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 90 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 14+ seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just 10 seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 44Â teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships.
Eight FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including women’s basketball (No. 20, 2021-22), beach volleyball (No. 20, 2022) and both men’s soccer (2018, 2019) and women’s soccer (2018) as three of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors’ Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions.
In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA’s Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.50 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 25 consecutive semesters.
The past five semesters (Fall 2019 – Fall 2021) each saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher team GPA in each. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 – being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
—FGCUATHLETICS.COM—
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