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Florida National University

Scoreboard

Lamaria Williams running a play against Trinity College of Jacksonville 2025-26
@onethree_photography
75
Winner Florida National (FL) FLORIDA 7-8, 1-1
54
Hesston College HESSTON 4-16, 0-0
Winner
Florida National (FL) FLORIDA
7-8, 1-1
75
Final
54
Hesston College HESSTON
4-16, 0-0
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Florida National (FL) FLORIDA 19 20 21 15 75
Hesston College HESSTON 6 15 17 16 54

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Brenda Bogle

Conquistadors subdue Larks for second conference win

LAWRENCE, Kan. (Jan. 16, 2026) — Conquistador women's basketball (8-8) was dominant in their 75-54 win over the Hesston College Larks (4-17) Friday. FNU connected on 19 of 23 attempts from the free-throw line en route to its largest margin of victory so far in 2025-26.

FNU entered its second Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) Classic in as many weeks, going 1-1 in Temple Terrace, Fla., with a loss against Haskell Indian Nations University and a much-needed win over Washington Adventist University. FNU's first opponent in Lawrence, Kansas, was the four-win Hesston Larks, and FNU jumped ahead on 44.4% shooting in the first quarter.

Seven different Conquistadors entered points in the boxscore, and FNU coasted to a 19-6 lead after one. Maria De Gracia Karamanites and Hermione Hicks combined for eight of FNU's first-quarter points, while De Gracia bullied her way to six rebounds before the second period began. Hesston struggled offensively throughout the game, starting 2-16 from the field.

Before the break, FNU solidified its advantage despite allowing 15 Lark points in the second. Ziul Gonzalez's offensive brilliance continued to shine, as the freshman guard posted eight points, two boards, and a steal in the period to help FNU outscore the Larks 20-15. Jaylyn Laguna also found her spots with four points on 2-3 shooting from the floor, and FNU entered the locker room up 39-21.

In the third, the Larks had no answer for FNU's high-powered shooting from close range. The Conquistadors attacked the basket for eight made field goals and earned six shots at the charity stripe. Hesston was able to find some bright spots on offense, including five third-quarter points from Gresa Arapi. The Larks also connected on three shots from the three-point line, but FNU's Valeria Cifuentes chose a good time to rattle off seven points and a pair of rebounds.

FNU's bench was able to provide a ton of production in the fourth, as Lamaria Williams and Madison Betancourt-Pina combined for 10 of FNU's 15 in the quarter. FNU ended the game outrebounding the Larks 42-35 and forced 24 turnovers.

Gonzalez paced the team with 14 points to go along with three boards and three assists. De Gracia tallied a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double while Laguna ended the afternoon with 11 points. Notably, Kaylee Llanos and Cifuentes combined for 18 points while Llanos had a team-high five assists.

Up Next: Florida National battles Arkansas Baptist College tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.

 
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