MIAMI, Fla. – The FIU women's basketball team capped off an exciting season opener with a resounding 103-56 win over North Carolina Central University on Wednesday night as five different Panthers recorded double digit points.
 
From tipoff to the final horn, the Panthers were in complete control of the game. The offense was in a good flow especially in the second half, but what really stood out was their defense. FIU forced a whopping 40 turnovers and scored 46 points off those turnovers.
 
The Panthers defense made up for a slow first half offensively from behind the arc. FIU held the Eagles to just 26 first half points and they shot 25% from the field. What kept NCCU in the game early on was FIU's poor shooting. The Panthers shot 3-15 from three-point range (20%) in the first half of the game and shot 12-38 in total (31%).
 
Redshirt freshman, Sifa Joyeuse, had a memorable debut for the Panthers. She finished with 21 points and shot 4-6 from three to lead FIU in scoring. She was also a huge factor on the boards. Joyeuse was second on the squad with nine rebounds.
 
It was a balanced attack on offense for FIU especially in the second half. By the end of it, every single player on the roster scored and five different Panthers finished the game with double digits. Senior guard Kaliah Henderson made an immediate impact in her first game with the Panthers. She finished with 19 points, four rebounds, and three steals.
 
Sophomore guard Tanajah Hayes and Henderson played well off one another on defense, and they made it difficult for the Eagles' quicker players on the perimeter. Hayes led the Panthers with seven steals and showed why she was second in Conference USA last season averaging 2.3 steals per game. Hayes also chipped in seven points and seven rebounds.

The Panthers started the game on a high note rattling off the first 13 points of the game until the Eagles made their first field goal. It was an uphill battle the rest of the way for NCCU after being outscored 26-12 by the end of the first quarter.
 
FIU's offense went flat in the second quarter as they only scored 15 points on 4-18 shooting (22%), but their defense did not falter. They held the Eagles to 14 points in the second quarter and they only made two threes in 11 attempts in the first half.
 
Everything came together for FIU in the third quarter. It was the highest scoring quarter of the night for the Panthers erupting for 35 points. Redshirt junior Mihaela Lazic was the offensive spark during that stretch. 11 of her 13 points came in the second half and she knocked down 3 three pointers.
 
Senior shooting guard Olivia Trice and junior shooting guard Sariana Rodriguez Camacho helped shut the door completely on NCCU in the fourth quarter. They provided an offensive punch off the bench and combined for 22 of FIU's 39 bench points in the game. It was an all-out team effort as they reached 100 points for the first time since Feb. 6, 2021 in a triple overtime game against UTSA.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers will stay at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center and host Florida Gulf Coast University on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2:00 p.m. The game is scheduled to be broadcasted on ESPN+.
 
TICKETS
For more information on FIU tickets to FIU basketball home games, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit HERE.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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