Owls Fall to FGCU on Education Day

Friday, December 12

Boca Raton, Fla.

11 a.m.

Florida Atlantic

5-4,0-0American

FGCU

3-5,0-0ASUN

FGCU

Fla. Atlantic

12/12/2025 3:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic Owls couldn't finish their second-half rally on Friday as the Owls fell 70-59 against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles on Education Day at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

The Owls fall to 5-4 overall while FGCU moves to 3-5 on the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
FGCU struck first, but the Owls tied things up at 2-2 after a layup from Destyne Jackson. However, the Eagles began to pull away after a 10-2 run, taking a 12-4 lead. Vivian Onugha scored her first bucket of the day and added a pair of free throws to bring the Owls back within three, 12-9, at the 2:49-minute mark, but FGCU closed the quarter on a 6-2 run to extend its lead back to seven, 18-11, after the first.

FGCU extended its lead to 16 through the 4:22-minute mark as the Owls fell behind 29-13. The Owls got four back off a triple from Ineivi Plata and an Onugha free throw, but the Eagles outscored the Owls 5-2 to close out the half as FAU headed into the locker room trailing 34-19.

FAU battled back to open the second half, going on an 18-8 run, capped off by a pair of 3-pointers from Grace Carstensen and Zahira Arizmendi, to cut the deficit down to just five, 42-37, with 3:03 to play in the third. However, the Eagles extended their lead back to double figures, taking a 49-37 lead into the fourth.

In the fourth, Haley Walker connected on her first triple of the day to cut the Owls' deficit to seven, 58-51, with 3:45 to play, but the Owls just couldn't stifle the Eagles' offense as FGCU eventually took the 70-59 contest.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH LEANN FREELAND
"FGCU came out very aggressively in the first half. I thought they made plays and ran their stuff extremely well. They took away our transition, and we didn't match their offensive aggressiveness to start. I thought their defensive intensity impacted our ability to execute our sets well. In the second half, I thought we brought a lot of energy, but we can't just be a second-half team. We chatted about that and will look to refocus on Monday."

NOTES AND TEAM STATS

Carstensen, Jess Moors, and Michiyah Simmons tied for a team-high nine points.
Carstensen shot 43 percent (3-of-7) from the floor and 50 percent (3-of-6) from beyond the arc, while also collecting a team-high three steals.
Haley Walker led the Owls on the boards, pulling down a game-high nine rebounds against the Eagles.
Arizmendi dished out a team-best four steals in the contest.
The Owls were most successful in the third quarter, outscoring the Eagles 18-15.
FAU also outpaced FGCU in rebounding, 34-30, including a 9-1 advantage on the offensive glass, in addition to steals, 10-8, and in points off the bench, 29-15.

Gallery: (12-12-2025) Education Day vs. FGCU

UP NEXT
The Owls will hit the court next on Monday, Dec. 15, as they host the FIU Panthers for a 7 p.m. tip on ESPN+ inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

FOLLOW THE OWLS
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Florida Atlantic's 2025-26 season is sponsored by Flagler Credit Union.