MIAMI (December 16, 2017) -- FIU women's basketball ends their break from playing due to exams with a home-away-from-home game Sunday against USF. The contest takes place at Nova Southeastern's Rick Case Arena, due to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center being unavailable due to the graduation schedule adjustment after Hurricane Irma back in September. Admission is free and the game tips off at 3 p.m.
 
FIU wants to exorcize their demons off of last year's matchup with USF, in which the Bulls won by 50 points. This season's young team is more competitive, despite a 2-7 record. This season's Panthers have cut their margin of defeat in half and have had the lead at the start of the fourth quarter in more than half (five of nine) contests, leading with five minutes to play four times (2-2 mark).
 
USF beat FIU by 50 points last season in the Sun Dome, 91-41. The Panthers had a hard time with on-ball pressure and the Bulls hitting 16 three-pointers in the matchup (on .516 long-distance shooting) to end November last season. 
 
Kiandre'a Pound's (Gifford, Florida / Sebastian River HS) 17 points and eight rebounds turned out to not be enough as the Panthers lost by 11 at Morgan State to finish their DC-area road trip last Monday the 4th. FIU could not get going early, shooting 4-for-15 in the opening quarter, and .309 for the game for the third-straight loss. 
 
The Bulls put together a record-setting performance Friday night in a 108-48 over Southern at the Sun Dome. Kitija Laska scored a career-high 40 points as the team hit a program record 21 three-point field goals. Laska was the third player this season to score 40. 
 
USF Head Coach Jose Fernandez is a 1994 FIU graduate, and is 7-0 against his alma mater as the Bulls' mentor.
 
DIRECTIONS TO RICK CASE ARENA: From I-95 or Florida's Turnpike, Exit at I-595, proceed west to University Drive. Turn left (south) onto University Drive. Proceed approximately 1.5 miles and turn left onto SW 30 St (Abe Fischler Blvd.) Continue approximately one-half mile and turn right into the North entrance of the campus (this is Ray Ferrero, Jr. Blvd.) The public parking garage is located on the right.
The parking venue is 200 yards north of the Rick Case Arena at the Don Taft University Center.
Following this contest, the Panthers host the FIU Holiday Tournament on Wednesday and Thursday, back in the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
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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