MIAMI (Feb. 27, 2021) – The FIU women's basketball team closed out its Conference USA series with WKU at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center on Saturday. The Panthers took down the Hilltoppers 82-79 for the program's first win over WKU since 2013. 

With the victory, the Panthers earned their 11th win overall this season and eighth in league play. The eight conference wins are the most overall for FIU since the 2012-13 season. 

FIU began the contest with a back-and-forth battle in the first quarter that resulted in the team trailing by just two after the first 10 minutes. A squad-best nine points by Fujika Nimmo in the second period helped power the Panthers ahead, outscoring the Hilltoppers 28-20 during the quarter to lead 46-40 at halftime. 

Following the break, WKU pulled ahead 68-67 after a 28-20 quarter that favored the Hilltoppers. Trailing in the fourth, FIU put together a 7-0 run that began with an Emerald Ekpiteta bucket that put the squad ahead 79-74 with 3:03 remaining in the contest. The Panthers never surrendered the lead following the rally and took down the Hilltoppers 82-79.

Jiselle Thomas led the squad with 21 points during the victory. Ekpiteta logged her eighth double-double of the year, posting 14 points and 10 rebounds. Nimmo earned 16 points on Saturday, while Kyla Nelson finished in double-figures as well with 10 points on the afternoon. 

UP NEXT
FIU will officially close out the regular season on Wednesday, March 3, as the Panthers face Florida Memorial at 7 p.m. from the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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