CONWAY, Ark. (Interstat) — A dominant second-quarter defensive performance and a combined 36 points from Nay Staton and Sinai Douglas propelled the Florida Gulf Coast women’s basketball team to a 63-52 victory over Central Arkansas on Thursday night at the Farris Center.

The Eagles, who improved to 10-10 overall and evened their ASUN Conference record, held the Bears to just five points in the second period, turning an 18-18 tie after one quarter into a 29-23 halftime lead they would not relinquish. Central Arkansas shot 19 of 58 from the floor for the game, a 32.8% clip, and managed only 6 of 25 from three-point range.

Florida Gulf Coast’s offense, while not prolific, was efficient enough and capitalized at the free-throw line, making 18 of 19 attempts. The Eagles shot 44.4% from the field and committed 18 turnovers, but their defense forced 15 Bears turnovers and blocked six shots.

The most critical stretch of the game began late in the first quarter and extended through the second. After Central Arkansas’ Cheyanne Kemp gave the Bears an 18-15 lead with a layup at the 1:01 mark, Florida Gulf Coast’s Anna Mortag answered with a three-pointer just before the buzzer to tie the game. That momentum carried into the second quarter, where the Eagles’ defense completely stifled the Bears’ attack.

Central Arkansas went scoreless for the first 6:21 of the second period, missing eight consecutive field goal attempts and committing four turnovers. Florida Gulf Coast, meanwhile, slowly built its lead. A layup by Jordan Campbell at the 6:10 mark ended a nearly four-minute scoring drought for both teams and put the Eagles up 20-18. Nay Staton then drew a foul on a three-point attempt and calmly sank all three free throws to extend the lead to 23-18. The Eagles held Central Arkansas without a field goal for over nine minutes of game time, spanning the first and second quarters, until Shae Littleford’s layup with 2:39 left in the half finally broke the drought.

The Bears never fully recovered. Every time Central Arkansas made a push in the second half, Florida Gulf Coast had an answer. When Bree Stephens hit a three-pointer to pull the Bears within 42-39 early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles responded with a 6-0 run, capped by a Karina Gordon jumper, to push the lead back to nine. Central Arkansas would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Staton, a junior from Jersey City, New Jersey, led all scorers with 19 points, adding five rebounds and two steals. Douglas, a sophomore guard from Toledo, Ohio, orchestrated the offense with 17 points and six assists. Mortag provided a significant defensive presence off the bench with four blocks and 10 points.

For Central Arkansas, which fell to 11-9, Littleford led the way with 17 points and four assists. Stephens added 16 points, but the Bears’ offensive struggles, particularly in the paint where they shot just 12 of 34 on two-point attempts despite scoring 24 points in the lane, proved too much to overcome.

The game was a rematch of a Jan. 3 contest in Florida, which the Eagles also won, 64-51. Florida Gulf Coast will look to build on the road win when they travel to face North Alabama on Saturday. Central Arkansas will host Stetson on Saturday.

The announced attendance at the Farris Center was 856.