MIAMI (Oct. 20, 2021) - The FIU women's basketball team announced the release of its 2021-22 season schedule on Friday, as Head Coach Jesyka Burks-Wiley and the Panthers get ready for a full slate of games following a shortened season.
For the complete 2021-22 schedule, click here.
"I'm pumped about our schedule release this year," said Coach Burks-Wiley. "Our players have been working hard and the test that lies ahead in the preseason will surely make us a better team. We're going to face a variety of different playing styles during our non-conference schedule this season and it will without a doubt prepare us to be competitive come C-USA play."
FIU is coming off a successful first season under Coach Burks-Wiley, who earned the second-most wins (15) nationally among first-year head coaches as the Panthers celebrated two postseason victories in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI).
With official practices underway, the Panthers have been grinding away behind the scenes and are ready to carry momentum into the upcoming campaign.
Coach Burks-Wiley and the Panthers will face a challenging lineup of 29 games this fall, with 17 games on FIU's home floor at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. The Panthers are set to begin the year with 11 matchups against non-conference opponents before diving into the Conference USA portion of its schedule.
FIU's upcoming slate will feature battles against West Division foes Rice and UTEP, who finished last campaign with top-three win percentages in the league. FIU will also face the gauntlet of a very competitive East Division, which includes two contests against 2020-21 C-USA Champion Middle Tennessee, and second-place East Division finisher Charlotte.
The Blue & Gold open the year in front of the Panther faithful at the OBCC on Tuesday, Nov. 9, against a George Mason program that will be guided by four-time MEAC Coach of the Year Vanessa Blair-Lewis. FIU follows up the season opener with a weekend bout against in-state foe Florida Memorial and Sun Conference Freshman of the Year Chantel Barnett on Friday, Nov. 12.
The Panthers then head to the state of Georgia to play two contests in their first road trip of the season, when they see Kennesaw State on Monday, Nov. 15, before facing off against Georgia Southern on Wednesday, Nov. 17.
After over a week away from competition, the Panthers begin a stretch of four consecutive home games, including three games in a five-day span. FIU will host the annual Thanksgiving Classic at the OBCC beginning with a contest against Chicago State on Friday, Nov. 26, before capping the tournament against Eastern Michigan the following Saturday, Nov. 27.
The Blue & Gold hosts two in-state challengers the following week, when they battle Jacksonville on Tuesday, Nov. 30, before facing off against UNF on Saturday, Dec. 4.
After traveling upstate to play Bethune Cookman in FIU's final non-conference road game on Dec. 14, the Panthers will return to campus to host the annual Christmas Tournament. FIU squares off against Binghamton on Monday, Dec. 20, to open the tournament, before playing against UMASS Lowell the following Tuesday, Dec. 21.
The Blue & Gold will finally crack into the Conference USA slate while the Panthers ring in the New Year, with road contests against East Division foes ODU (Dec. 30) and Charlotte (Jan. 1).
FIU sees a critical three-game home stand at the OBCC in early January, beginning with a showdown against WKU on Saturday, Jan. 8, then followed by games against UAB (Jan. 13), and reigning conference champion Middle Tennessee (Jan. 15). The Panthers wrap up the month with road contests at Marshall (Jan. 20) and a rematch at WKU (Jan. 22), before returning home for games against UTSA on Thursday, Jan. 27, and UTEP on Jan. 29.
FIU will play its most road games of any month during the February slate, with the Panthers first taking trips to Southern Miss (Feb. 3) and Louisiana Tech (Feb. 5). The Blue & Gold then enjoys a short stint at home when they welcome Marshall on Thursday, Feb. 10, before FIU travels for its toughest road trip of the year to face reigning C-USA division winners MT (Feb. 17) and Rice (Feb. 19).
The Blue & Gold will have the advantage of playing three of its final four East Division matchups at the OBCC, as the Panthers cap the month of February with battles against Charlotte (Feb. 24) and ODU (Feb. 26). FIU jumps into the madness of March with a home-and-home against C-USA rival FAU, beginning with a contest against the Owls in Boca Raton (Mar. 2), followed by the Panthers' regular season finale in Miami on Saturday, Mar. 5.
This year's C-USA tournament is set to begin on Tuesday, Mar. 8, and will stretch until Saturday, Mar. 12. The league tournament will tip off at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
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