Game Details
North Dakota State 71, FIU 68
Records: FIU 2-9, NDSU 6-6.
Wednesday, December 20 | 12 p.m. | Miami, Fla | Ocean Bank Convocation Center
 
The Basics                                   

• FIU set a program record for points in a quarter, but a three-point attempt fell just short in the waning seconds as FIU dropped a heartbreaking three-point decision, 71-68, to North Dakota State to start the FIU Women's Basketball Holiday Tournament, Wednesday at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
• The Panthers are 2-9, while the Bison level their record to 6-6.
• It was an entertaining game, as the score would indicate, with three lead changes and eight tie scores, including a quick, four-point swing in the final minute of the third quarter. Tied at 54, sophomore Kayla Rogers (Jacksonville, Florida / Jean Ribault HS) banked in a runner from the left side of the lane with 30 seconds remaining and redshirt junior Kiandre'a Pound (Gifford, Florida / Sebastian River HS) blocked the jumper the other way. That's when junior Kristian Hudson (Birmingham, Alabama) sprinted down the floor and buried a jumper as time expired to give the Panthers a 58-54 edge after three. It was the sixth time in 11 games the Panthers held the lead heading into the fourth. 
• FIU outscored NDSU 32-22 in that period, the first time a Panthers team has had 30-or-more points in a period since the NCAA went to quarters in women's college basketball in the 2015-16 season. The previous total for a quarter was 29 for FIU in the fourth quarter of a road game at UCF on November 17, 2015. FIU shot .629 in the third on 13-for-21 shooting.
• NDSU took the lead just past the midway point of the period and did not trail to the end. FIU was able to fight back to a tie on two Hudson free throws with 1:10 to play, but a three from Taylor Thunstedt went unanswered when a three for FIU fell shot in the final 10 seconds of regulation.
• The rim was unkind to FIU in the final frame, with FIU connecting on just three of 14 attempts (.214), while the Bison hit six of their 13 attempts (.462).
• Hudson had a season-high 27 points on the afternoon, the highest non-overtime scoring output of her career.
• Pound produced her fifth double-double of the season, with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
• The Panthers had a season-low eight turnovers in the contest.

 
Stat of the Match                             
The Bison bench outscored FIU 35-8, though FIU won the second-chance scoring battle, 30-6, thanks to a 20-10 offensive-rebounding edge. 
 
From the Sideline
"We had really good energy today," said FIU Head Coach Tiara Malcom. "We attacked right away but when they tied it, we kind of had a lull, but their bench did a good job and we just needed to find some more scoring. Looking at the stat sheet, this looks like we won the game."
                
Next Up 
FIU will next face Clemson, which lost to Central Arkansas in the other game of the doubleheader Wednesday. The Panthers and Tigers will tip off at 2 p.m. Eastern.
For women's basketball ticket information, contact the FIU Ticket Office at 305-FIU-GAME or log onto www.FIUSports.com.
 
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