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Florida National University

Scoreboard

Maria De Gracia and Destiny Nguyen side-by-side during media day 2026
Huracan Films
72
Winner Virgin Islands UVI 1-2
69
Florida National (FL) FNU 0-1
Winner
Virgin Islands UVI
1-2
72
Final
69
Florida National (FL) FNU
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Virgin Islands UVI 22 11 19 20 72
Florida National (FL) FNU 10 16 30 13 69

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Brenda Bogle

Conquistadors’ late-scoring run not enough to best UVI Wednesday

HIALEAH, Fla. (Oct. 28, 2026) — Florida National (0-1) came up just short in a 72-69 loss to the University of the Virgin Islands Buccaneers (1-2) Wednesday. Sophomore Maria De Gracia Karamanites had a great fourth quarter with eight points and seven rebounds, but UVI was able to ice the game at the free-throw line in the closing seconds.

The first half put the Virgin Islands on top with an impressive 22-10 first quarter for the visiting team. FNU was paced by four quick points from De Gracia at the rim, as both teams combined for a 2-12 performance from the three-point line in the first. UVI relied on 11 total points from Destiny Bishop and Tiana Carey, as the Buccaneers shot 42.9% from the field.

FNU was able to cut UVI's lead to seven at the break, outscoring their opponent 16-11. FNU finally connected on a couple of threes from Jaylyn Laguna and newcomer Adaya Montalvo, which eased some of the pressure offensively. Center Karla Quintero ran the floor well, racking up four points on a pair of layups before the break. FNU's defense also picked up right on time, as the Conquistadors headed to halftime with six steals in the second.

In the third, Florida National's Montalvo was special with eight points, including a strong and-one on a fast break layup. De Gracia was also a big help with four quick points, but FNU's bench was the real difference in the quarter. Ziul Gonzalez went two-for-three from the floor for six quick points, and Laguna posted four. FNU's offense was firing for an impressive 58.8% shooting performance from the field, but went just 8-of-14 from the free-throw line. This set up a 56-52 affair heading into the fourth, with UVI trailing thanks to a 7-2 run from FNU.

Despite a stellar third quarter, UVI's Khan and Bishop willed their team within one, before a pair of free throws from Danica Robles gave their team a 61-58 advantage. FNU was held to just two points for the first five minutes of the frame, and despite six timely scores from De Gracia and a great attacking effort from Valeria Cifuentes, UVI iced the game on a 1-1 performance from Tiana Carey at the line in the final seconds. This left just six seconds for a Laguna three from the corner that was not released before the buzzer.

Notably, De Gracias was one rebound shy of a double-double with a team-high 20 points. Gonzalez was great off the bench with eight points and three steals, while Montalvo and Cifuentes posted 13 and nine points, respectively.

Up Next: FNU heads to Leesburg, Fla., for a 5:30 p.m. contest against Beacon College Nov. 3.


 
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