MIAMI, Fla. – The FIU women's basketball team  had a total of four players finish with double-figure scoring totals, but it wasn't enough in an 82-71 road loss at Jacksonville University on Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers and Dolphins started this game in close matchup with neither team gaining a serious edge on offense. JU had a 19-11 lead late in the first quarter before redshirt junior Mihaela Lazic made her first of three, three-point shots to end the first quarter trailing 21-14.
 
FIU (1-2) rallied back in the second quarter to outscore the Dolphins 23-15. When the Dolphins were leading 26-20, the Panthers responded with a 9-0 scoring run. Jacksonville was able to tie the game and regain the lead midway through, but the Panthers ended the first half on a high note.
 
JU was leading 36-31 with a little over a minute left in the second quarter and FIU closed out the half on a 6-0 run to take a 37-36 halftime lead. That run was sparked by junior forward, Maria Torres, making back-to-back layups and finished the game with 12 points.
 
The Panthers were unable to create separation with their slim lead in the third quarter. FIU's offense still held up by posting 23 points again but they allowed the Dolphins to score 22 points. FIU made three, three-pointers in this quarter and two of them were by sophomore guard Zaida Gonzalez. After three quarters, the Dolphins trailed FIU 60-58.
 
The Dolphins' offense erupted in the final quarter. They outscored the Panthers 24-11 in the fourth that was highlighted by a 19-0 stretch that began late in the third quarter.
 
Lazic snapped Jacksonville's run with her third three-pointer of the game and the Panthers now trailed 73-63. The Dolphins held off a late comeback by FIU and earned their second win of the season.  
 
Redshirt freshman, Sifa Joyeuse, paced the Panthers with 19 points and recorded four steals. Zaida Gonzalez was second on the team with 13 and chipped in six rebounds. Senior center, Hope Butera, led the attack on the glass for FIU and grabbed eight boards. Mihaela Lazic was tied for second on the team in scoring with 12 points and collected four assists.

UP NEXT
The Panthers will return to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center as they will host the FIU Thanksgiving Classic. The Panthers will play Howard University on Friday, Nov. 25 at 12 p.m. and then go up against Drake University or the University of Massachusetts on Sunday, Nov. 27, at 1 p.m.

TICKETS
For more information on FIU tickets to FIU basketball home games, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit HERE.

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