FIU Athletics

MIAMI (November 11, 2016) -- FIU got 16 points from returning sophomore point guard Kristian Hudson (Birmingham, Alabama) and 13 in the return of 2015 Conference USA Freshman of the Year Kiandre'a Pound (Gifford, Florida / Sebastian River HS), but the Panthers women's basketball team fell 69-52 at home in the season-opening game to UCF Friday afternoon on Lime Court at FIU Arena. FIU starts 0-1, with the Knights beginning 1-0.
 
"We are young and we had some early nerves, but I am proud of the way they stuck together tonight," said FIU Head Coach Tiara Malcom, in her first game since being named head coach of the program in April. "We got into a jumping contest with UCF and that was not how we were going to win."
 
Pound missed last season, but led all players with 36 minutes played. Though she started 1-for-7 from the field, she hit four of her last 10 field goals for the point total.
 
"It felt good to get back out there with my teammates and play," Pound said. "I just wish I could have done more to help my team win the game."
 
The Panthers got off to a rough start in the first quarter, having to fight through a scoring drought of over three minutes in the middle of the frame. Back-to-back three-point baskets by freshman Alexis Gordon (Palm Bay, Florida / Covenant Christian) and senior Nikolina Todorovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) created a 6-2 run to pull the Panthers back to within two points, at 14-12. The quarter ended with the Knights leading by four, at 18-14.
 
A second three-minute drought in the second quarter gave UCF a 7-0 run and pushed the visitor's lead to 10 points, at 27-17, and the Knights extended the lead to a dozen at the half.
 
FIU started the third shooting 1-for-7, though they were able to generate more possessions in the frame by virtue of forcing three quick UCF turnovers in the opening minutes of the second half. The Knights pulled away to lead by 17 at the end of three periods, and the teams tied the fourth for the game's final margin.
 
The second half saw UCF shoot nearly 50 percent from the field, while the Panthers shot at 40 percent in the last two quarters. FIU hit 10 of its 12 free throw attempts in the game, and nearly 50 percent (6-for-13) from three-point range.
 
UCF put three players in the double-figure scoring column, with Fifi Ndour leading the team with 14 points. Joslyn Massey was the lone player on the night with a double-double, scoring 11 points and collecting 11 rebounds, all on the offensive end.
 
FIU will play its first road game of the season Tuesday night, starting at 7 p.m. at FGCU.
 
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/.