MIAMI (Nov. 25, 2021) – FIU women's hoops hosts the annual Thanksgiving Classic beginning this Friday, Nov. 26, when the Panthers welcome Chicago State for an afternoon contest, before facing off against Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 27.
 
Tip off against the Cougars is slated for 12 p.m. ET on Friday at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center (OBCC), while game time against the Eagles is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Following FIU's contest on Friday, Eastern Michigan will take on Delaware at 2 p.m. at the OBCC, with Delaware battling Chicago State at 12 p.m. on Saturday.

FOLLOW LIVE
Both of FIU's contests will be broadcast on CUSA-TV. Live stats for the game can be found here.

FIU MATCHUP PREVIEWS
FIU split its two contests last week on the road against Kennesaw State (67-57) and Georgia Southern (74-81, OT). The Panthers own a 2-2 record on the season and are 1-1 at the OBCC thus far.

Chicago State has posted a 1-4 record this season after a tough schedule to start the campaign. After dropping contests to Wichita State, UAB, Western Illinois, and Loyola Chicago, the Cougars finally got over the hump with their first win in nearly two years against Big Ten foe Wisconsin (71-63). The victory marked Chicago State's first-ever against the Big Ten Conference in program history.

Eastern Michigan owns a 2-1 record this season and has posted back-to-back wins against Grace Christian (133-45) and Detroit Mercy (76-66). The Eagles opened the year with a 67-70 loss against Youngstown State. EMU posted a program-record 133 points in the most recent contest against Grace Christian, marking the second-highest scoring output in the NCAA this season.

ALL-TIME SERIES
The Panthers own a 1-2 all-time record against EMU, with the Eagles winning the last two matchups. The contest will mark the first time FIU and EMU have met in nearly 14 years, with the two squads last seeing each other back on Dec. 8, 2007, in Miami.

FIU and Chicago State are meeting for the first time ever in program history.

SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Freshman guard Aaliyah Collins leads Chicago State with 14 points per game, while also pacing the squad in total steals (18) and assists (13). Junior forward Kyjai Miles paces the squad with 5.4 rebounds per game. Fifth-year guard Allysah Boothe leads Chicago State from beyond the arc with a team-high 11 made three-pointers to go along with a .379 shooting percentage.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Redshirt senior guard Areanna Combs leads EMU in points per game (16.3), assists (22), and steals (15), while also averaging 7 rebounds per game and 41 percent shooting from the floor. Ce'Nara Skanes leads the squad with 8.7 boards per game while averaging 13 points per game. Senior guard Danielle Rainey is shooting .588 percent on treys this season with a team-high 10 made attempts.

FIU BY THE NUMBERS
Fifth-year transfer Ariel Colon leads FIU in scoring (15.5 ppg) and three-pointers made (10) while shooting an efficient 45 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc.

Returning senior Emerald Ekpiteta leads FIU with 7.5 rebounds per game while rankings second on the squad in scoring (11.8 ppg).

Junior transfer Olivia Trice leads FIU in three-point shooting percentage (.467) for all players who have attempted at least three treys. Trice has knocked down seven long-balls on the year.

Freshman guard Tanajah Hayes paces the Panthers with 11 total assists on the year.

Kyla Nelson leads FIU with nine steals, while Trice is pacing the squad in blocks (3).

UP NEXT
The Panthers are back in action at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center on Tuesday, Nov. 30, for a battle against in-state foe Jacksonville. Tipoff against the Dolphins is set for 7 p.m. ET.

TICKETS
For tickets to all upcoming women's basketball home games, click here.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIUWBB on Facebook and @FIU_WBB on Twitter and @FIUWBB on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.