ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Interstat) — In a stunning nonconference upset, the Navy women’s basketball team handed the Florida Gators their first loss of the season, earning a 69-54 victory on Sunday at Alumni Hall.

The Midshipmen, improving to 3-0, used a dominant second quarter and a stifling defensive effort to overcome a hotly contested opening period and pull away from the previously unbeaten Gators, who fell to 4-1. The result defied statistical projections that heavily favored Florida.

The game began as a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets to an 18-18 tie after the first quarter. Florida’s Me’Arah O’Neal opened the scoring with a 3-pointer, but Navy quickly responded, with Zoe Mesuch and Zanai Barnett-Gay connecting from beyond the arc to keep pace.

The complexion of the game changed entirely in the second quarter. Navy’s defense locked down, holding Florida to just 13 points while its own offense found a rhythm. The Midshipmen embarked on a 17-5 run over a critical stretch, fueled by their precision from 3-point range. Mesuch and Julianna Almeida orchestrated the surge, with Almeida dishing out assists and Mesuch draining long-range shots. By halftime, Navy had built a commanding 39-31 lead.

Florida’s offensive struggles deepened dramatically in the third quarter, where they managed a mere six points. The Gators shot a frigid 19 for 66 from the floor for the game, a 28.8 percent clip, and were just 5 for 26 from 3-point range. Their offensive rating of 72.0 on 75 possessions underscored a afternoon of inefficiency.

Navy, by contrast, executed with efficiency, posting an offensive rating of 98.5. The Midshipmen shot 24 for 51 from the field, including 10 for 22 from deep. They also capitalized on Florida’s mistakes, scoring 19 points off of 19 Gator turnovers.

Barnett-Gay, a guard from Glenn Dale, Maryland, led all scorers with 22 points and added eight rebounds in 32 minutes. She was instrumental in maintaining Navy’s lead throughout the second half. Almeida, a 5-foot-6 guard from North Arlington, New Jersey, delivered a well-rounded performance with 12 points, seven rebounds and eight assists while playing 38 minutes. Mesuch contributed 15 points, all from 3-point range.

In the post, Navy’s Morgan Demos controlled the glass, hauling in 12 rebounds to go with eight points.

Florida was led by Laila Reynolds, who scored 19 points and provided five assists. O’Neal finished with 14 points and six rebounds, while Nyadieng Yiech added 12 points. Despite forcing 19 Navy turnovers and collecting nine steals, the Gators could not overcome their own shooting woes and were outscored 21-13 in the decisive second quarter.

The announced attendance was 825 at Alumni Hall in Cape Saint Claire.

The two teams are scheduled for a quick rematch, with Florida returning to Annapolis to face Navy again on Tuesday. The Gators will then host Florida State on Thursday. Navy will host Rider on Wednesday before traveling to face Richmond on Sunday.