FGCU guard Sinai Douglas (11) shoots over Indiana defenders Jess Petrie (12) and Lenée Beaumont (5) during Tuesday night’s season opener at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. (Photo courtesy of FGCU Athletics)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Florida Gulf Coast University women’s basketball team lost 79-50 to Indiana University on Tuesday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

FGCU (0-1) struggled to find its rhythm from perimeter range, connecting on just 3-of-26 attempts from beyond the arc against the Big Ten host Hoosiers.

Sinai Douglas led the Eagles’ scoring with 13 points, while Denika Lightbourne joined her in double figures with 10 points, finishing 6-for-9 from the free-throw line. Lily Zeinstra pulled down a team-high five rebounds to go along with three assists. Freshman guard Elle McCulloch, a Brownsburg, Indiana, native, scored her first collegiate points, hitting a 3-pointer and making a free throw. Freshman guard/forward Ari Turla also logged her first collegiate points, knocking down three free throws.

After struggling to score in the first quarter, FGCU settled down defensively in the second quarter. The Eagles held the Hoosiers to 14 points, while scoring 13 to remain within striking distance, down 33-18 at the halftime break.

Indiana (1-0) took control in the third quarter outscoring FGCU 25-14. The Hoosiers shot 6-for-11 from the floor and 11-for-15 from the line while knocking down both of their 3-point attempts to push their cushion to 58-32.

Whistles impacted the Eagles’ rotation throughout the night. Jalei Pillow fouled out of the contest, while both Douglas and Eve Alexander managed late-game minutes with four fouls apiece.

Zania Socka-Nguemen led Indiana with 13 points, supported by Alisa Williams (12 points) and Lenée Beaumont (10 points).

FGCU fell to 5-10 all-time against Big Ten opposition and 25-41 against power conference programs.

The Eagles return home to Fort Myers for their home opener on Saturday, Nov. 7 against Arkansas State. Tip-off at Alico Arena is set for 2 p.m.