When Chihil — who grew up in Tipp City — first set foot on the FGCU campus in Fort Myers, the athletic department was just beginning its transition from NCAA Division II. This is the first season the Eagles were even eligible for the Atlantic Sun tournament, let alone the NCAA.
Today at noon, boasting a No. 1 seed and 28-2 record, FGCU plays defending champ Stetson in Macon, Ga., for the A-Sun championship and automatic NCAA bid that goes with it.
Unquestionably the team’s leader and toughest defender for most of her four seasons, Chihil has persevered through several ACL surgeries involving both knees during high school and college, each time bouncing back to accustomed performance levels.
She had 13 points and five assists in a 76-53 semifinal win over Kennesaw State on Friday.
Wednesday, in the quarterfinals, she had 15 points, five rebounds and three assists and was 10-for-10 from the free-throw line against Tennessee State.
The Eagles, on a 20-game winning streak, lead the nation in 3-point shooting. They sank 11 Friday and need 17 to break the NCAA single-season record of 340 set by Morehead State two years ago.
Chihil has done her part there, too, sinking 37 percent (36-of-97) after going 3-for-3 Friday.
Campus tour
• It probably wasn't bad enough to make him doubt leaving a year of college eligibility on the table, but Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy (Wayne) reportedly did his draft stock no favors with a mediocre showing at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis that saw him finish 13th among linemen with a 79.5 rating.
Worthy seemed unbothered. On Twitter, when asked by former Michigan State defensive lineman Robaire Smith how everything went, he replied, “I think I got an A. Wanted an A+. Gona clean up a few things for pro day (March 14) but overall it was good.”
• Bethany College senior basketball player British Alexander (Trotwood-Madison) was named first team all-Presidents' Athletic Conference for the second year in a row after helping the Bison win the PAC championship and set a school record with 25 wins. Despite missing three games due to injury, Alexander, a Sinclair grad, still led the PAC in blocks with 53 while averaging 10.3 points and 8.1 rebounds.
• Ohio Northern wrestler Jeremy Jones (Beavercreek), by virtue of winning the 133-pound Ohio Athletic Conference title, has qualified for the NCAA Division III national championships in LaCrosse, Wis., next weekend.
• Kaitlyn Good (Vandalia Butler), a Cincinnati sophomore, finished 5th in the pentathlon at the Big East Indoor Track and Field Championships last weekend in New York. She was also on the fifth-place 4x800 relay team.
If you have information about an area athlete in college, send an email to smcclelland @DaytonDailyNews.com.
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