MIAMI (Nov. 23, 2015) – The FIU women's basketball team dropped its second-straight game on Monday night, 81-53, to cross-state rival Florida Gulf Coast University. The Panthers fell to 1-2 on the year while the Eagles improved to 3-2.
FIU placed three players in double figures, led by
Janka Hegedus and
Kristian Hudson who each scored 13 points apiece.
Tianah Alvarado added 10 points in a losing effort.
The Panthers shot just 38.2 percent (21-of-55) from the field, including 25 percent (4-of-16) from three-point range, and 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from the free-throw line. On the other side, the Eagles shot 48.4 percent (31-of-64) from the field, and 44.8 percent (13-of-29). FGCU also missed one free throw in seven attempts (85.7 percent).
FIU jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead when Alvarado converted a layup, off a steal, with 5:34 left in the first quarter.
Alvarado's layup would be the last offense the Panthers would get for a while as the Eagles broke the game open with a 27-2 run that was capped with a driving layup by Katie Meador with 6:17 left in the half to put FGCU up, 29-10.
Destini Feagin ended FIUs scoring drought with a jumper with six minutes left before the break.
FGCU would outscore the Panthers, 19-8, in the second quarter, and eventually take a 39-18 lead into the locker room at the intermission.
The Eagles would never be threatened in the second stanza as they extended its lead to as much as 30 points, 70-40, with 7:29 left in the game, and never looked back.
The Panthers return to action on Friday, Nov. 27, at noon, when it takes on Marquette in the first round of the FIU Thanksgiving Classic. Wichita State and Richmond will meet in the second game at 2 p.m.
For women's basketball ticket information, contact the FIU Ticket Office at 305-FIU-GAME or log onto www.FIUSports.com.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUWBB) 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).
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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 at the FIU Football 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 Florida's 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, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.
