The FIU Panthers women’s basketball team secured a 64-60 victory over Western Kentucky, achieving their twelfth Conference USA (CUSA) win of the season. This marks the most conference wins in program history since joining CUSA.
Western Kentucky led after the first quarter, 14-13. The Panthers responded in the second quarter by scoring 19 points and limiting Western Kentucky to 11. Judit Valero contributed eight points in that period and finished with 15 points overall. She shot 5-for-8 from the field, including three three-pointers, and added three rebounds and two assists.
FIU held a 32-25 lead at halftime, but Western Kentucky narrowed the gap by winning the third quarter. In the final moments of the game, Western Kentucky cut FIU’s lead to two points with less than a minute remaining. Rhema Collins then scored to extend FIU’s advantage to four points with 18 seconds left, securing the win.
Rhema Collins recorded her thirteenth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. She also had an assist and two steals. Parris Atkins led all scorers for FIU with 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting and collected seven rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
With this result, FIU finishes second in the regular season CUSA standings. The official bracket for the CUSA Basketball Tournament will be released later tonight.
The Panthers are scheduled to play in the quarterfinals of the CUSA Basketball Tournament at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama on Wednesday, March 11 at 3 p.m. ET against an opponent yet to be determined.
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