MIAMI (Feb. 17, 2016) -- FIU women's basketball will attempt to win a second game in a row for the first time this season when the Panthers host North Texas Thursday night on Lime Court at FIU Arena. The tip time is scheduld for 7 p.m.
 
FIU put forth an outstanding defensive effort last Saturday to get its first road win of the season, 59-54, at UTSA. The Panthers have won their last two road games in San Antonio. FIU is 4-20 overall, 2-11 in Conference USA.
 
In that game, senior Brianna Wright (Titusville, Florida / Titusville HS) amassed an incredible 20 rebounds to go with eight points and four blocked shots to help power the defense to the win. The 20 rebounds were six away from the school record (set back in 1980) and the season-high total by any Conference USA player this season. Freshman point guard Kristian Hudson (Birmingham, Alabama) led the way for the Panthers in scoring with 18 points, including eight in the first quarter to get the offense going early.
 
FIU is 2-2 in the month of February as the program has made adjustments in the way they play into the final stretch of the regular season. Wright's return two weeks ago from a season-long injury has allowed more flexibility in minutes and roles moving forward.
 
The Panthers are led in scoring by senior Taylor Shade (Boynton Beach, Florida / Community HS), who averages 14.8 points overall and 15.5 points per game in conference this season. Four Panthers have averaged double figures in scoring, including Shade, Hudson, junior Tianah Alvarado (St. Petersburg, Florida / Gulf Coast State) and senior Destini Feagin (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).
 
After falling at home to Charlotte last Saturday, the Mean Green are 8-14 overall, 3-9 in conference. Kelsey Criner scored 25 points, while Achiel Tac had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds I the 82-70 loss. The Mean Green have lost five in a row heading into their Florida-trip weekend, last claiming victory at home over UAB in a two-point victory. Criner leads UNT with a 12.5 points-per game average. Four North Texas players average 10-or-more per game this season.
 
FIU averages about one more point per game in scoring average than UNT, but the Mean Green average five more rebounds per game this season. Both teams feature first year head coaches, Marlin Chinn at FIU and Jalie Mitchell at UNT.
 
Following this contest, the Panthers will host Rice Saturday, with a 12 noon tip. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Florida and be seen around the country on FSN, including on MASN2, MSG Plus and Root Sports in the Rocky Mountain Region. The Panthers will also honor long-time coach Cindy Russo in a halftime ceremony at the game. A bevy of former players are returning to honor their coach, who spent 36 years at the help of the program.

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/.