MIAMI (Jan. 8, 2022) - The FIU women's basketball team showed defensive promise in its C-USA opener against a formidable WKU squad, yet the Panthers fell in the end to the Lady Toppers by a score of 51-63 at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center (OBCC).

The Panthers' record now stands at 8-4 on the season and 0-1 in C-USA play, while the Hilltoppers improve to 10-4 overall and 3-0 in the league.

FIU held a hot WKU squad to its lowest scoring total in C-USA play this season while forcing 26 Hilltopper turnovers in the contest.

Offensively, the Blue & Gold saw a team-high 15 points from Ariel Colón, who scored 13 consecutive FIU points in the second half to give the Panthers an offensive spark.

Down 7-15 after the first quarter, the Blue & Gold heated up in the second to outscore WKU by a margin of 20-16 in the period. The Panthers shot 67 percent from the floor in the second quarter, including 4-for-6 on three point attempts as FIU trimmed its deficit to four points and entered the locker room down 27-31.

The Blue & Gold saw their largest run of the game late in the third quarter, when FIU scored eight unanswered points to cut its deficit to 37-40. Colón sparked the Panther offense with all eight points as the Panther defense held WKU to only 33 percent shooting in the period, including an ice cold 1-for-6 from beyond the arc.

Entering the fourth quarter down 37-43, the Panthers saw Colón continue her hot streak with another five consecutive FIU points to start the period. With under four minutes remaining in the game, Kyla Nelson sank a 3-pointer followed by a free-throw from Emerald Ekpiteta as FIU cut its deficit to four points (47-51).

After a clutch layup from Ekpiteta, the Panthers were within reach and down by a margin of only 51-57 with 58 seconds left in the game, but three consecutive WKU trips to the charity stripe in the final possessions helped the Hilltoppers pull away for good and seal the victory over the Blue & Gold. 

Maria Torres logged a game-high three blocks in her fifth consecutive start, as the Panther continues to provide an interior defensive presence for FIU.

Freshman guard Tanajah Hayes led all players with five assists, while Zaida Gonzalez nabbed a team-high three steals and shot an efficient 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.

UP NEXT
FIU returns to the OBCC next week on Thursday, Jan. 13, when the Panthers welcome UAB for another C-USA showdown. Game time against the Blazers is set for 7 p.m. ET.

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

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