Arkansas State University's women’s basketball team fell 89-59 to Florida Gulf Coast University on Saturday afternoon at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Florida. The Red Wolves dropped to 0-2 on the season, while Florida Gulf Coast improved to 1-1.
Crislyn Rose led Arkansas State with 14 points, while Amina Gray and Monica Marsh each added 13. Angela Carroll led the team in rebounding with eight boards, while Rose and Jermesha Frierson contributed three steals each. Despite double-digit showings from three players, the Red Wolves struggled to find rhythm on offense, finishing the game shooting just 28% from the field (20-for-72). In contrast, Florida Gulf Coast shot 50% (32-for-64) and dominated the boards with a 52-36 rebounding advantage.
Arkansas State took an early one-point lead less than two minutes into the game, but Florida Gulf Coast pulled ahead and didn’t relinquish control. At the end of the first quarter, the Red Wolves trailed 22-13, with Gray contributing seven of those points. Arkansas State managed to close the gap to five points early in the second quarter, but the Eagles responded with a dominant scoring run, outpacing A-State 20-4 to close the half. The Red Wolves went into the locker room facing a 21-point deficit, shooting just 21% in the first half (8-for-37).
Monica Marsh provided a spark in the third quarter, scoring 10 points, including two three-pointers and a pair of free throws. While the Red Wolves tallied 19 points in the quarter—making it their most productive offensive period—Florida Gulf Coast maintained their pace and stretched the margin with 29 points, hitting 10 out of 15 shots.
In the final quarter, Crislyn Rose added 10 points for Arkansas State, sinking two three-pointers during an 8-0 run. The Red Wolves edged FGCU in fourth-quarter scoring, 17-16, but could not overcome the substantial deficit built earlier in the game.
Arkansas State will continue their season-opening road trip with a Wednesday night game against Loyola Chicago. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Chicago.