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ESTERO — Sure, it takes hard work, a stubborn nature, smarts and savvy, but there often is a lot of luck involved with inking slam-dunk classes.

Two-plus years ago, it took a stolen cellphone, an ironic viewing and several other twists and turns for Florida Gulf Coast University women's coach Karl Smesko to land transfers Kate Schrader, Alex Nelson, Jen Conely and Chelsea Dermyer, all key players for this season's top-ranked and undefeated run that has the South Region champion Eagles facing North Central champ North Dakota (32-3) in a Wednesday night Elite Eight matchup in Kearney, Neb.

DAVID ALBERS / Daily News

FGCU senior guard Alex Nelson works on her free throws during practice Thursday at Alico Arena.

Smesko will be the first to tell you that assistant LeAnn Freeland deserves much — maybe even most — of the credit. She first spotted Nelson and Conely in the national JUCO tournament.

Smesko said he has full faith in Freeland and proved that by offering Nelson, a senior guard who is the Eagles' best defender and third-leading scorer with 9.1 points per game, sight unseen.

"I never saw her play a minute before she got on campus," Smesko said. "We had to move fast because she was going back to (her native) Scotland."

Nelson had transferred to Cincinnati State from Panola College and had averaged 10 points while helping lead her team to a 29-3 record and sixth-place national finish. But she had a knee injury and things did not seem to be breaking her way and she needed some home-cooking.

Smesko and Freeland got her down here ASAP and offered on the spot. Nelson had a visit scheduled for Tennessee-Martin but said her phone was stolen before she could take it, sort of the final straw in what had largely been an aggravating recruiting process.

"And I was like, 'I'm just going to sign with that school down in Florida,' " Nelson said. "I really liked it. It was like it was meant to be.

"It's one of the best decisions I ever made."

Schrader is at the head of this class that has amassed an almost impossible 61-2 record (and counting). For both seasons, she has been the team's leading scorer and rebounder (17.2 and 5.7 this season) and is this season's South Region Player of the Year and tournament MVP. Last year, she helped tote the Eagles to the South Region semifinals.

But Smesko didn't know a thing about her. Schrader caught his eyes while he was watching tape of Dermyer, Schrader's teammate in Fort Collins and at Yavapai College.

"I thought, 'Boy, this kid would be perfect for us,'" Smesko said. "So the next time I called Chelsea, I said, 'Hey, there's another kid on your team. Where's she going? I really like this kid.'"

Dermyer and Schrader had played together since seventh grade and had long talked of staying together through college. The Yavapai College coach told Smesko that Schrader had committed to Long Island. She had not, and the pair flew toward FGCU after Smesko offered schollies over the phone.

"We just loved it," Schrader said.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Dermyer had to redshirt last season because of a preseason knee energy, but has been a driving force as a junior, leading FGCU from the point.

Conley actually had considered walking on at North Dakota, where coach Gene Roebuck wanted her to earn a scholarship down the line. She had long been a fan of the Fighting Sioux, watching them in person when possible. She also had other scholarship opportunities.

"I was going to visit other places, but (FGCU) was so perfect, I had to come. Didn't even check out other places," Conely said.

All three seniors said they felt they would be part of something special. But 61-2?

"Hopefully, we can do some great stuff," Schrader said of the thoughts of her and Dermyer. "I don't know if we thought it would be this good."

Said Nelson: "No way. I don't know who does envision something like that!"

"It's really a dream," Conely said. "To play with Kate and Alex and everyone has been a blast.

It's been just an unbelievable experience. There's nothing wrong with 61-2, and hopefully, we're not done yet, either."

From the bench, Conely averages 6.1 points (many from behind the 3-point line) and 3.0 rebounds.

But these seniors' contributions cannot only be counted by stats.

Freshman guard Steffi Sore nsen was named Ms. Florida Basketball after her senior season at Jacksonville's Bartram Trail High.

She was welcomed with open arms by the seniors.

"Each one of them has had a significant effect on me," said Sorensen, who is FGCU's second-leading scorer. "I was here during the summer when I first met Kate. She kind of introduced me to everything — getting in the weight room, running on the treadmill. She's funny, she's smart and a really good basketball player.

"Then when I first got here, I met Jen. At first I'm a little quiet, so she introduced me to my teammates and got me talking.

"I live with Nelson. She's kind of been my big sister: 'OK, we've got to clean now.'

"They've all been like my best friends or sibblings off the court.

As far as on the court, Nelson is always telling me to play good defense. Always encouraging.

Kate is always there to cheer me on. Jen as well.

"They've all had significant influence on me."

And on this 61-2 run.

"A lot of players have contributed to that, but Kate has played exceptionally well," Smesko said.

"She's a really smart player, makes very few mistakes. And she's good at just about every aspect of the game. She can score in a variety of ways, she's a very good defender. She's a fun kid to have around. Great personality.

Always makes her teammates laughs and is always a positive example.

"I think Alex has developed a lot in the last two years. She's always been our best perimeter defender. She's a consistent scorer in that she'll always get you 8-10 (points), and then she has those games where she gets 16. She gets those steals. All-around good player. Our quickest and fastest player. Skilled and she gives us some athleticism.

"Jen has been a great shooter for us over the last two seasons.

She's definitely an option off the bench because she can score points in bunches. She also takes a lot of charges and she's pretty good on the boards." Schrader summed up her FGCU experience.

"Oh, my gosh, I'm so happy I came here," Schrader said. "This coaching staff is so great. They are so dedicated to the program and the players. And they care about you as a player and a student. The place is just great. I love Florida, of course.

"It couldn't have been better."