Game Details
Middle Tennessee 63, FIU 59
Records: FIU 6-18 (3-8 C-USA), MT 15-9 (7-4 C-USA)
Saturday, February 10 | 2 p.m. | Miami | Ocean Bank Convocation Center
 
The Basics

• FIU women's basketball finished its Conference USA weekend by narrowly falling to Middle Tennessee 63-59 at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center Saturday afternoon. A great FIU defensive effort came up short in the final period as the Blue Raiders hit free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
• The win is the 11^th in a row for Middle in the series, and slips FIU to 6-18 on the season, 3-8 in C-USA. FIU has dropped its last six contests. MT improves to 15-9, 7-4 in C-USA.
• All-Conference center Alex Johnson was too much for FIU to handle. Though the Panthers frustrated her early, she came through for the Lady Raiders for 24 points and 7-for-11 from the free-throw line to carry MT to the win.
• The Panthers sold out on defense and had an excellent first quarter from a shooting standpoint, hitting 7-of-11 field-goal attempts. The Panthers led by as many as nine points in the frame, at the 2:44 mark, but Middle hit a couple of clutch threes to pull within two, 17-15, at the end of the period. FIU had an 11-4 rebounding margin at the time.
• FIU outrebounded Middle 11-4 in the opening period.
• The Blue Raiders posted a 13-10 second quarter to take a slim 28-27 halftime lead as defense was the theme of the quarter.
• Both teams scored 18 points coming out after halftime adjustments, in the game's biggest offensive quarter. The Panthers hit 8-of-14 shots (.571) and hit their first two threes of the game in that period.
• Panthers junior Kristian Hudson (Birmingham, Alabama) scored 17 points and added seven assists to lead the team in both categories. For the sixth time this season, freshman Callie Cavanaugh (Holyoke, Massachusetts) posted a double-digit scoring performance, with 11 points.

Stat of the Game
FIU shot .458 for the game, their best performance from the field in a loss this year, and the second-best mark at home this season.
 
From the Bench
"They did a tremendous job of playing personnel, making tough plays and being focused when we made adjustments ," said FIU Head Coach Tiara Malcom. "We were locked in and maybe if we get a couple more breaks, we can get the win."
 
Next up for FIU
The Panthers travel to San Antonio for a rare conference game on a Wednesday night, as FIU faces UTSA at 8 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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