FORT MYERS, Fla. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by offensive droughts and critical late-game execution, the Indiana Hoosiers remained undefeated, edging the Gonzaga Bulldogs 76-72 in a women’s college basketball game Friday at Florida SouthWestern State.

The contest, a matchup of contrasting styles, saw Indiana’s efficient offense and interior dominance narrowly overcome a gritty Gonzaga effort fueled by a standout individual performance.

Indiana improved to 7-0, while Gonzaga fell to 3-4.

The game was a possession-by-possession battle throughout the second half. Indiana built its victory on a foundation of paint dominance and superior shooting efficiency. The Hoosiers scored 40 points in the paint and shot 48.3 percent from the floor, compared to Gonzaga’s 28 paint points and 39.4 percent shooting. Despite attempting only five more field goals, Indiana made two more than the Bulldogs.

Gonzaga kept pace through sheer volume of opportunities, capitalizing on a 14-8 offensive rebounding advantage and forcing 10 Indiana turnovers into 17 points. The Bulldogs also connected at a higher rate from beyond the arc, making 7 of 19 three-point attempts while Indiana managed just 5 of 20.

The back-and-forth affair saw its final lead change with under three minutes to play. Trailing 65-62, Indiana’s Maya Makalusky connected on a crucial three-pointer off an assist from Zania Socka-Nguemen to tie the game with 1:28 remaining.

Gonzaga’ Allie Turner answered immediately with a jumper to reclaim the lead, but Indiana’s Shay Ciezki drove for a layup with 17 seconds left to put the Hoosiers ahead for good, 74-72. After a Gonzaga timeout, a last-second three-point attempt by Zeryhia Aokuso missed, securing the Indiana victory.

Ciezki, a guard from Buffalo, New York, led the Hoosiers with 24 points, adding three assists in 36 minutes of action. Her backcourt partner, Lenée Beaumont of Lisle, Illinois, provided a versatile stat line of 11 points, six rebounds and four assists.

The Hoosiers showcased their depth with four players scoring exactly 10 points: Nevaeh Caffey, Socka-Nguemen, Makalusky and Valentyna Kadlecova. Socka-Nguemen also contributed eight rebounds and three assists.

Gonzaga was carried by a spectacular performance from Lauren Whittaker. The 6-foot-3 forward from Christchurch, New Zealand, was nearly unstoppable, pouring in 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting in just 25 minutes. She added five rebounds, three assists and a block.

Turner, a guard from St. Louis, Missouri, supported Whittaker with 21 points, including three three-pointers. Jaiden Haile of Fargo, North Dakota, was a force on the glass, grabbing nine rebounds to go with 10 points and four assists.

The game was characterized by its defensive intensity, as evidenced by the low assist totals. Indiana managed just two assists as a team, while Gonzaga finished with seven. Both teams committed 10 turnovers.

Indiana’s offense operated with slightly more efficiency, scoring 110.1 points per 100 possessions compared to Gonzaga’s 103.4. The Hoosiers also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 15 of 19 attempts, while Gonzaga hit 13 of 16.

The victory extends Indiana’s strong start to the season, which includes wins over Florida State and Florida Gulf Coast. The Hoosiers will look to continue their unbeaten streak when they host Western Michigan on Wednesday.

Gonzaga, which has faced a challenging early-season schedule with losses to Stanford and South Dakota State, will seek to get back to .500 when it faces Marquette on Sunday, also in Fort Myers.