Sports
FGCU Eagles Play Cards Right, Stun Stanford 66-62 in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – In Las Vegas on Friday night, the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles earned a statement 66–62 win over previously undefeated Stanford at the Resorts World Classic. After entering the matchup 0–4 all time against the Cardinal, FGCU punched back with an all-around performance to hand Stanford its first loss of the season and ignite major momentum early in the Raina Harmon era.
RECORDS: Florida Gulf Coast 2-3, 0-0 ASUN | Stanford 7-1, 0-0 ACC
SCORE: Florida Gulf Coast 66 | Stanford 62
LOCATION: Resorts World Events Center | Las Vegas, Nev.
First Quarter: FGCU opened with solid defensive intensity, contesting touches around the rim and forcing Stanford into tough looks. Cerina Rolle and Anna Mortag provided early offense, while Sinai Douglas pushed the tempo to keep the Eagles within arm’s reach. Stanford made just enough plays late in the frame to stay in front and took a narrow 15–14 lead after the opening 10 minutes.
Second Quarter: The Eagles settled in and began to control the tempo on both ends. Douglas connected on a midrange jumper to spark the offense, and Maca Retamales added timely attacks to the basket to keep the scoring balanced. FGCU’s defense held Stanford to just 10 points in the period, limiting second-chance opportunities and closing out possessions on the glass. A steady push to close the half sent the Eagles into the locker room with a 28–25 advantage.
Third Quarter: FGCU came out of halftime with one of its best offensive stretches of the early season, erupting for 26 points in the third quarter. Retamales caught fire from the perimeter, Mortag continued to score inside, and Douglas attacked downhill to keep Stanford on its heels. A highlight moment from the quarter came when Karina Gordon sank back-to-back-to-back three pointers to push the Eagles ahead by 11. Even as the Cardinal found more rhythm offensively, the Eagles matched them shot for shot and used a late surge to outscore Stanford 26–23 in the frame, stretching the lead to 54–48 heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter: With the game in the balance, FGCU showed composure and toughness on both ends. Douglas created key drives to the rim, Retamales stepped up with a big three, and the Eagles did their job at the free throw line. The Cardinal made a late push, but FGCU got the stops it needed and managed the clock down the stretch to close out a 66–62 win, handing the Cardinal their first loss of the season in a statement performance.
Head Coach Raina Harmon – “I am super proud of the team today. Our message to them was to focus for all 40 minutes, and we really challenged them coming into this trip. We’ve been playing well in the first half of games but slipping a bit in the third quarter, so we specifically challenged them to win that stretch, and they delivered with our best third quarter of the early season. I know it’s a big win because it’s good Stanford team and they came in undefeated, but what we did tonight is really a testament to the nonconference schedule we’ve taken on. It reflects the tough opponents we’ve already faced and the ones still ahead. I thought we did a fantastic job following the scouting report and trusting each other to execute offensively. I’m just super proud of them. Go Eagles!”
Forward Maca Retamales – “From beginning to end, we put together a really solid game. We came in well prepared, and that preparation showed in how we handled everything Stanford threw at us. Offensively, we moved the ball, stayed disciplined, and trusted our system. Everyone embraced their role tonight, and that’s what made the difference. We had each other’s backs from the opening tip, and it led us to this win.”
Maca Retamales – 14 PTS, 3 REB, 3 STL
Anna Mortag – 13 PTS, 4 REB, 1 BLK
Karina Gordon – 12 PTS, 1 REB, 1 BLK
Sinai Douglas – 10 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST
Cerina Rolle – 8 PTS, 6 REB, 2 STL
The Eagles are right back in action as they take on the Troy Trojans on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 10:30 p.m. as part of the Resorts World Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada.
NEW YORK CITY, NY (FNN SPORTS) – LIV Golf plans to begin winding down operations Monday, Nov. 9, following five years and more than $5 billion in spending.
Attorney Matthew Williams outlined the league’s plans during a bankruptcy court hearing Thursday, Nov. 5, in New Jersey. The process includes selling its remaining assets.
“We believe the wind down path is the best path,” Williams told the court.
LIV Golf confirmed the decision after a proposed restructuring deal fell through. The league said it will continue considering alternatives during the shutdown process.
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — On Monday November 2, at the Yuengling Center, the South Florida women’s basketball team opened with a successful debut undernew head coach Kristy Curry.
The Bulls established control early with a 9–0 opening run, taking a 27–12 lead after the first quarter. Furman narrowed the margin before halftime, but South Florida maintained a 46–32 advantage heading into the break.
A dominant third quarter proved decisive, as USF outscored Furman 23–9 to extend its lead to 69–41 entering the fourth.
Balanced Scoring Leads the Bulls
Stefanie Ingram led South Florida with 15 points, followed by Hannah Kohn with 13 and Kendall Puryear with 12 points and nine rebounds.
The Bulls placed six players in double figures, shot 51.6 percent from the field and controlled the boards with a 48–25 rebounding advantage.
A Winning Debut for Kristy Curry
The victory marked Curry’s first win leading South Florida after arriving from Alabama.
Ahead of the season opener, Curry expressed confidence in the program’s potential:
“I’m so excited to be here. I truly think the sky’s the limit at USF.”
— Kristy Curry, USF Head Coach, in pregame remarks published by USF Athletics.
South Florida (1–0) will face Belmont on Friday, November 6, in Nashville, Tennessee.
– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
Bulls overcome early deficit behind defensive touchdowns and a record-tying performance from C.J. Hicks.
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The University of South Florida (USF) secured its sixth victory of the season Saturday, October 31, defeating the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) 30–10 at Raymond James Stadium. The victory improved the Bulls’ record to 6–2 overall and 2–2 in American Conference play, making the program bowl-eligible for the fourth consecutive season.
Defense Turns the Game Around
UAB opened the game with a 10–0 first-quarter lead, but South Florida responded with 30 unanswered points, highlighted by two defensive touchdowns.
Defensive end C.J. Hicks delivered one of the game’s most significant performances, recording four sacks to tie the USF single-game record. Two of those sacks forced fumbles that resulted in touchdowns.
Late in the second quarter, Hicks forced a fumble by UAB quarterback Ryder Burton, allowing USF defender Asani Redwood to recover the football and return it six yards for a touchdown. The play gave South Florida a 17–10 halftime lead.
Asani Redwood and UAB #71 UAB defensive lineman #71 attempts to tackle USF’s Asani Redwood during the October 31, 2026, matchup at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Photo by Nisey Spruill / Florida National News
Hicks created another scoring opportunity in the fourth quarter, forcing a second fumble that linebacker Grayson Howard recovered and returned 13 yards for a touchdown, extending USF’s lead to 27–10.
South Florida’s defense finished with six sacks and 11 tackles for loss, limiting UAB to just 177 total offensive yards, including 17 rushing yards.
Offensive Adjustments Provide Momentum
Following an injury to starting quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr., sophomore Luke Kromenhoek entered the game and helped shift momentum in South Florida’s favor.
Luke Kromenhoek (#17) USF quarterback Luke Kromenhoek (#17) carries the football while facing pressure from a UAB defender during the Bulls’ 30–10 victory at Raymond James Stadium on October 31, 2026. Photo by Nisey Spruill / Florida National News
Kromenhoek finished with a career-high 92 rushing yards, including a 42-yard run that helped establish the Bulls’ offensive rhythm.
Running back Jason Collins Jr. added a six-yard rushing touchdown late in the second quarter to tie the game at 10–10.
Kicker Nico Gramatica contributed three field goals, connecting from 31, 30 and 33 yards to help secure the victory.
Bowl Eligibility Marks Another Program Milestone
With its sixth win, South Florida secured bowl eligibility for the fourth consecutive season, matching the second-longest such streak in program history.
The accomplishment allows USF to qualify for postseason bowl consideration, although an official bowl invitation and destination have yet to be determined.
The victory also kept the Bulls competitive in the American Conference standings, with four regular-season games remaining following the UAB matchup.
Looking Ahead
USF will return to conference competition Friday, November 6, traveling to face East Carolina as the Bulls continue their pursuit of a stronger conference finish and a postseason bowl invitation.
Final Score: USF 30, UAB 10
– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
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