Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF)

Postgame Quotes | Photo Gallery 

EL PASO, Texas (Mar. 14, 2014) – Senior Jerica Coley concluded her final game with 19 points and 12 rebounds as FIU's run in the Conference USA Championships halted Friday morning from the Don Haskins Center as the Panthers fell to rival Middle Tennessee, 64-57. With the loss, the Panthers dip to 15-18 overall, while the win lifts the MTSU to 28-4.

Coley led all scorers with 19 points, while adding a team-best 12 rebounds for her sixth double-double this year. She was jointed in double-figures by junior Tynia McKinzie and sophomore Taylor Shade with 15 and 10 points, respectively. The Blue Raiders were led by none other than C-USA Player of the Year Ebony Rowe and C-USA Freshman of the Year Olivia Jones, who combined for 37 points and 25 rebounds.

FIU led early on, thanks to back-to-back three-pointers from Kamika Idom and Coley, but Middle Tennessee would go on an 8-0 run to take its first lead at the 8:10 mark, 19-18. From there, the Blue Raiders hit a three-pointer and a long jumper to take its then-largest lead of the day. FIU was held without a field goal for over seven minutes. A Katrina Epnere trey ended the Panther dry spell and put them within a point with 4:38 left in the first. Middle Tennessee went on a 7-2 run going into the locker room to lead, 32-25, at the half.

The Raiders and Panthers traded baskets over the first few possessions of the second half before an 8-0 run by the Panthers would put them within three. Middle quickly responded, turning to Rowe. The Raiders went on a 15-6 run that lasted over 10 minutes and the Blue Raiders took a 13-point lead. FIU made a late run to cute that 13-point deficit down to five, but MT hit on the majority of its free throws to close FIU's almost magical run in its first C-USA Tournament.

 For the game, FIU shot 29.0 percent (18-of-62) compared to Middle's 40.7 percent (22-54) performance. The Panthers also were out-scored in the paint by 34-18.

Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUWBasketball) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUWBasketball) for all the latest FIU women's basketball news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Google+ (FIU Athletics), Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics). The official hashtag of the 2013-14 FIU athletic season is PantherNation.

#####

About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium.

About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelor¹s, master¹s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida¹s anchor institutions, FIU is Worlds Ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded 200,000 degrees and enrolls 50,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visithttp://www.fiu.edu/