GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T lost to the best mid-major women's basketball team in the country in Florida Gulf Coast, 60-36, in both teams' respective season openers Friday night at Corbett Sports Center.

N.C. A&T (0-1) showed a big presence on the inside, outscoring FGCU (1-0) in the paint 14-8 during the first half. Unfortunately for the Aggies, the Eagles found success on the perimeter. After averaging 9.6 3-pointers per game last season, the Eagles knocked down nine threes against N.C. A&T while shooting 46.8 percent from the floor.

Taylor Gradinjan led the Eagles by going 5-for-5 from three and 6-for-7 from the floor to finish with a game-high 17 points. Both teams struggled to take care of the ball throughout the game, however, FGCU converted on several backdoor opportunities which helped them shoot 46.8 percent from the field. Thanks to the double sometimes triple teaming of 6-foot-3 Aggies center Aprill McRae, the Aggies did get some open perimeter shots, but the Aggies connected on just 4 of 19 3-point shots as they shot 33.3 percent from the floor.

Despite the difficulties on offense, a sprint down the floor by fifth-year guard Adriana Nazario cut FGCU's lead to 21-15 with 4:22 remaining in the first half. A short jumper by McRae kept the Aggies within five, 22-17, a minute later. But Gradinjan hit her second 3-pointer of the game to extend the lead to eight. A free throw apiece by Dy'Tiesha Dunson and Stephanie Haas gave the Eagles a 27-17 halftime lead.

The Aggies could never get the lead under double figures again. McRae paced the Aggies with 12 points and also notched six boards. Redshirt junior Dana Brown added six points and three assists. Graduate transfer Courtney Powell also chipped in seven rebounds.

The Aggies will play game No. 2 11:45 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 18 at Campbell. It will be the first of four straight games away from Corbett.