FIU women’s basketball will travel to face Louisiana Tech on Thursday, February 12 at the Thomas Assembly Center. The Panthers, holding a 14-8 overall record and 7-4 in Conference USA (CUSA), recently achieved consecutive wins over Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee. This marks the first time since the 2010-11 season that FIU has defeated both teams in the same week.
Currently, FIU ranks second in CUSA for scoring with an average of 73 points per game overall and 68.1 points against conference opponents. Rhema Collins leads CUSA with 11 double-doubles this season, ranking first in the conference for points per game (18.3), rebounds per game (9.9), and blocks per game (1.7). Collins scored a career-high 40 points against Georgia State, which is the highest single-game point total in CUSA this season and the most by any player in the league since the previous year.
Parris Atkins, who was selected to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference team, averages 17.3 points per game—third-best in CUSA—and is also notable defensively with an average of 3.25 steals per game, placing her second in CUSA and thirteenth nationally. Atkins recorded a career-high of 35 points earlier this season against Missouri State.
The Panthers have seen other standout performances as well: Adama Badjie Coly joined Collins with double-doubles against Western Kentucky; freshman Grecia Ferrer Leal ranks among league leaders in assists; junior Denika Lightbourne set a personal best with 25 points against Jacksonville State; and sophomore Ndate Ndiaye scored a career-high of 15 points versus Florida National.
FIU’s roster features significant international representation, with twelve out of fourteen players born outside the United States. Returning players include senior Parris Atkins and redshirt-sophomore Fantasia James—both recipients of previous All-Conference honors—as well as juniors Judit Valero and Denika Lightbourne.
Louisiana Tech enters Thursday’s matchup leading Conference USA at 17-5 overall and 10-1 within conference play. The Lady Techsters top CUSA for scoring (75.3 ppg) while allowing just under sixty points per contest defensively. They are led by guard Paris Bradley (15.2 ppg), along with Jianna Morris (11.7 ppg), Jordan Marshall (11.6 ppg, team-leading rebounder), and Alexia Weaver (10.1 ppg).
Earlier this season, LA Tech defeated FIU at Ocean Bank Convocation Center; FIU aims to even the series on Thursday.
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