WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. ( Jan. 07, 2023) – Florida National University’s women’s basketball team suffered its first setback of 2023, with an 83-58 loss to the Keiser University Seahawks (12-6). The Conquistadors (6-7) came into the West Palm Beach, Fla., with a two-game win streak, picking up solid wins over the University of Fort Lauderdale Eagles and the Johnson and Wales University Providence Wildcats.
This loss drops FNU to below .500 as the Seahawks improve to 12-6 on the season.
The first quarter featured an offensive clinic from the Seahawks, as they racked up a 31-7 lead in the opening period. The Seahawks shot 57.1% (4-7) from behind the arc and a cool 50% (9-18) from the floor.
FNU was cold from long range as Kathyann Fresse-Castillo recorded the lone three-point for the Conquistadors in the period, while her team attempted seven from three. Despite shooting 23.1% from the field (3-13) and 14.3% from a long distance, Hermione Hicks and Janelisse Marty Marrero scored two points a piece to even out FNU’s offense in the first 10 minutes of play.
In the next frame, FNU came alive for 13 points in the period yet still trailed the Seahawks 50-20 at the break. Marty Marrero ended her first half with a team-high eight points picking up from her solid performance at the FNU Christmas Classic.
Natalie Larranaga had a quiet first half with just one point but still managed to grab five rebounds through two quarters. Keiser’s sharp shooting continued in the second, shooting a consistent 66.7% from the floor and behind the three-point line. However, FNU’s defense showed some life forcing 10 Keiser turnovers in the second.
As the second half rolled along, Marty Marrero nabbed seven points in the third despite Keiser outsourcing the Conquistadors 19-10 in the period. The Seahawks did a great job of boxing out, outrebounding FNU 14-5 in the third. Larranaga got it going with four points in the period as Keiser held most of the momentum going into the fourth.
The Conquistadors finished the contest building a solid run through the first half of the quarter, outscoring Keiser 15-6 five minutes into the quarter. Fresse-Castillo put up nine points in the second half on 4-8 (50%) from the three-point line for the contest. Keiser did just enough to ice out a Conquistador comeback after leading by as many as 38 points.
Marty Marrero ended the afternoon with 22 points and four rebounds. Fresse-Castillo snagged all of her points from long distance tallying 12 points and three rebounds.
Up Next: FNU heads to Boston for the CAC Alliance beginning Jan. 13.
