Women's Basketball Falls Late In Back-And-Forth Battle At FGCU

Wednesday, February 25

Fort Myers, Fla. / Alico Arena

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

9-19,4-13ASUN

Florida Gulf Coast

14-14,10-7ASUN

North Florida

FGCU

Women's Basketball Falls Late In Back-And-Forth Battle At FGCU

2/25/2026 9:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – In a game that featured 17 lead changes and five ties, North Florida Women's Basketball ultimately fell late in a back-and-forth battle at FGCU, 58-55, at Alico Arena on Wednesday night.

Junior guard Alonya Waldon posted 14 points in 17 minutes, while freshman forward Dezuray McGill neared a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes.

Waldon has posted 10 or more points in 15 games and McGill has reached the mark in 12 games this season.

McGill got the scoring started with a layup inside on the initial North Florida possession. Redshirt junior forward Georgi Buzzeti finished a post-move inside to secure an early 9-7 lead for North Florida at the 4:33-minute mark of the first quarter. North Florida scored 12 of its 15 first-quarter points in the paint.

Waldon knocked down pair of free-throws to make it 15-10 at the end of the first quarter in a stretch in which North Florida held FGCU scoreless in the final 4:21 minutes of the inital action. The first quarter featured six lead changes.

North Florida opened its largest lead of the first half at 21-13 on a layup from junior guard Elle Blatchford at the 6:15-minute mark of the second quarter. FGCU went on a 15-6 run to secure a 28-27 lead at the half.

After FGCU pushed the margin to a two-score lead, Blatchford knocked down a three to make it 33-30. FGCU outscored North Florida 16-13 to lead 44-40 at the end of the third quarter.

Waldon connected on a three from the top of the arc to take a 47-46 lead at the 8:02-minute mark of the fourth quarter. After FGCU answered back, redshirt sophomore Alexa Washington made a pair of free throws to make it 49-48.

FGCU would retake the lead on a three on the next possession. McGill knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:12 minutes left in regulation to close the deficit to 54-53.

Waldon stole the inbound pass and finished the fastbreak score to take the lead at 55-54 with 54 seconds left. but FGCU would convert on four free-throw opportunities down the stretch to secure the eventual final.

North Florida closes out its regular season across town at River City Rumble rival Jacksonville in Swisher Gymnasium on Friday, Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. ET.