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Florida National University

Scoreboard

Ziul Gonzalez looking off to the side against Trinity College of Jacksonville 2025-26
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80
Fla. National FLA. NAT
85
Winner Fort Lauderdale FORT LAU
Fla. National FLA. NAT
80
Final
85
Fort Lauderdale FORT LAU
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Fla. National FLA. NAT 15 28 21 16 80
Fort Lauderdale FORT LAU 16 31 25 13 85

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Brenda Bogle

A Tale of Six Seven: FNU drops first contest of 2026 in free-throw shootout

NORTH MIAMI, Fla. (Jan. 2, 2026) — Florida National women's basketball (6-7) was unable to overcome a late deficit against the University of Fort Lauderdale Eagles (3-9) Friday, posting an 85-80 defeat at the Scott Galvin Community Center. This was the Lady Eagles' first win over FNU, snapping an eight-game run for the Conquistadors that dates back to 2022.

Ahead of FNU's 13th game of the 2025-26 campaign, Florida National knew the Eagles well. The Conquistadors survived a competitive battle of Dec. 5, coming away with a 72-65 win over the Eagles on home court behind a 22-point performance from Jaylyn Laguna. Friday's rematch proved to be less of a positive showing for FNU in the first half, as the visiting team allowed 31 UFTL points in the second quarter.

FNU entered halftime trailing 47-43 and relied on a 10-point burst from Ziul Gonzalez in the second to quell a rolling UFTL offense. In the opening ten minutes of the ball game, it was Hermione Hicks who led the charge with six points on 3-4 shooting while Karla Quintero needed just five minutes in her debut to post four quick points around the basket. FNU also faced early foul trouble in the first, with Hicks and Maria De Gracia Karamanites picking up two early fouls in the first. UFTL relied on big halves from Alexis Gibbs and Amelia Gatson, along with 15 attempts from the charity stripe.

As play resumed in the third, UFTL hung in there with an FNU team shooting 61.5% from the floor. UFTL outscored FNU 25-21, thanks in part to 13 combined points from Gibbs and Khyle Wharton. Gonzalez continued to roll for the Conquistadors, adding eight to her 15 points in the first half. Jaylyn Laguna and Llanos recorded five and six points, respectively, but FNU tallied seven personal fouls in the frame and sent UFTL to the line 11 times for nine easy points.

The free-throw line became crucial in the final stretch of the match after Valeria Cifuentes' layup made it an 81-80 UFTL advantage with 40 seconds left on the clock. Parker and Arlinda Roundtree knocked down four free throws to ice the game despite an unsuccessful, last-chance heave from the three-point line for Llanos that missed the mark with 23 seconds left.

Gonzalez paced the team in the loss with 26 points and four steals. Despite a slow start, Llanos had a near double-double with 15 points and eight assists, while Laguna ended her night against her former high school coach with 12 points, two steals and a pair of rebounds. Notably, Cifuentes had the most points for FNU's bench with six.

Up Next: FNU looks to shake off this loss with its first taste of conference play at the Continental Athletic Conference Classic (CAC) hosted by Florida College from Jan. 9-10.


 
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