TRUJILLO ALTO, Puerto Rico – Despite 11 points from Malena Washington and 10 apiece from A'Shanti Coleman and Keyahndra Cannon, the Arizona Wildcats fell to Florida Gulf Coast 57-55 Saturday in their second game at the Puerto Rico Classic.

The Eagles, an NCAA Tournament team from a year ago that lost to No. 9 Mississippi State by five on Friday, used a late surge to top the Wildcats.

Leading midway through the fourth quarter, LaBrittney Jones, playing in her second game back from a foot injury, canned a jump shot to give the Wildcats a 49-44 lead with 5:48 to play. The Eagles responded with a layup to cut it to three, but Coleman hit a bucket to stretch it back to five with 4:35 to play.

Over the next two-plus minutes, Florida Gulf Coast went on a 10-0 run to turn a 51-46 deficit into a 56-51 lead. The Cats (7-3) cut it to one with 51 seconds left thanks to back-to-back baskets from Washington and Jones. But the Eagles (8-3) made one free throw and held on defensively to secure the victory.

The Wildcats outrebounded the Eagles 43-23, but coach Niya Butts said the team struggled to collect some critical boards late in the game.

“We didn't rebound in the clutch when we had to,” Butts said. “If we rebound, the game is over. We shot the ball well, we just turned the ball over and wasted some possessions. When that happens, it's tough to beat a good team.”

The Wildcats were led in the first half by their starting post players, Coleman and Breanna Workman. Coleman, a true freshman, was 4 of 4 from the floor in the game's first 20 minutes and had eight points in 13 minutes. Workman, a junior, had six points and four rebounds in 12 minutes. She was 4 of 6 from the free throw line.

Arizona shot 46 percent from the floor in the first, but struggled from 3-point range, hitting just one of eight. Florida Gulf Coast led for the majority of the first half, with Arizona being out in front for just 31 seconds. But the Wildcats had a strong push at the end of the half to get within striking distance.

Trailing 27-21 with 4:30 to play in the second quarter, Workman scored four straight points to cut it to a two-point deficit with 3:46 left. Junior Malena Washington then converted a driving layup and was fouled. She hit the free throw to give the Wildcats a brief 28-27 lead. The Eagles then scored the next four points to take a three-point lead. It was cut to one on a Coleman layup, but then extended right back to three before the half.

For the game, Arizona shot 36 percent, but had 13 assists on 21 made baskets. Jones played 15 minutes in her second game and had seven points, five rebounds and three blocks. Workman led the team with six rebounds and Cannon was tops in steals with three.

The Wildcats will look to bounce back Monday against Gardner-Webb. Game time is set for 1:30 MST.