FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball team (13-14, 9-7 ASUN) returns to Alico Arena on Wednesday night to host North Florida (9-18, 4-12) for a 7 p.m. tipoff as the regular season enters its final stretch. The evening will also serve as AHA Night and a Red Out, with fans encouraged to wear red in support of heart health awareness.

Wednesday's contest marks the 42nd all-time meeting between the programs, with FGCU holding a dominant 38-3 advantage in the series. The Eagles also claimed the most recent matchup two weeks ago in Jacksonville, earning a 55-51 victory behind a strong all-around performance from Sinai Douglas, who scored 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting while adding two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Nay Staton contributed 10 points and eight rebounds, while Airah Lavy knocked down two three-pointers for six points and Jalei Pillow added six points and six rebounds.

FGCU enters the contest coming off a 70-61 road loss at Jacksonville on Feb. 21 that dropped the Eagles to 9-7 in conference play. Douglas paced the Eagles with 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for a double-double, while Cerina Rolle added 12 points and Maca Retamales provided a spark off the bench with 12 points on efficient shooting. Staton chipped in nine points and six rebounds as FGCU battled throughout before Jacksonville created separation in the second quarter and held off a late push. The Eagles finished with 38 rebounds and 21 free throws made but struggled from three-point range, shooting 2-of-21 from deep in the defeat.

North Florida enters Wednesday after a 62-51 home win over Queens on Feb. 21 to improve to 4-12 in ASUN play. Alonya Waldon led the Ospreys with 15 points, while Alexa Washington added 14 and Elle Blatchford and Jamisyn Stinson each scored 11 as North Florida controlled the paint and the rebounding margin. The Ospreys shot 45.5 percent from the field, held Queens to 32 percent shooting, and finished with a 44-32 rebounding advantage in the victory.

Season-long numbers highlight FGCU's defensive identity. The Eagles are averaging just over 61 points per game while allowing roughly 60, but their impact has been most evident in conference play, where FGCU is holding opponents to a league-best 56.6 points, the lowest field-goal percentage (36.6%), and the lowest three-point percentage (25.1%) while allowing the third-fewest rebounds. Douglas leads the team at 11.5 points per game while also ranking among the ASUN leaders in assists, assist-to-turnover ratio, steals, and minutes. Staton adds 10.6 points and a team-best 5.5 rebounds per game while ranking near the top of the conference in free-throw percentage, and players like Rolle, Pillow, and Anna Mortag continue to provide scoring depth, rebounding, and defensive versatility.

North Florida is averaging just under 62 points per game while allowing around 70, relying on a efficient scoring approach rather than a single primary option. Waldon leads the Ospreys at 11.1 points per game, with Stinson and Dezuray McGill also averaging double figures. Alexa Washington and Karyzma Pierre anchor the frontcourt on the glass, while Blatchford provides efficient interior scoring and secondary playmaking. The Ospreys' ability to rebound and generate second-chance opportunities has been a consistent theme, as they average over 33 rebounds per contest.

In the ASUN rankings, Douglas sits 15th in scoring (11.5 PPG), fourth in assists (3.5 APG), tied for sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio, and tied for eighth in steals, while Staton ranks 24th in scoring and third in free-throw percentage. Staton and Douglas both sit inside the top 25 in rebounding, Rolle ranks among the conference leaders in steals, and Mortag and Eve Alexander provide shot-blocking presence.

For FGCU, the emphasis remains on steady growth and execution late in the season. Limiting three-point opportunities, protecting the paint, and continuing to improve game by game will be central themes against an Osprey team that looks to attack inside and control the boards. Offensively, establishing rhythm through ball movement and interior touches will be key as the Eagles look to capitalize on home court.

Following Wednesday's contest, FGCU closes the regular season at home Friday, Feb. 27, hosting Stetson for Senior Night. The Eagles will honor Nay Staton, Cerina Rolle, Maca Retamales, Jordan Campbell, and Anna Mortag as they wrap up the regular season inside Alico Arena.

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