MIAMI, Fla. – A 12-0 run to start the second quarter and an 18-0 run to begin the fourth propelled the FIU women's basketball team over Florida National University Wednesday night at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
 
It was an all-out team effort in this contest as three Panthers recorded double doubles led by junior forward Ajae Yoakum who finished with a career high 19 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. The Panthers' bench unit outscored the Conquistadors' by a wide margin 53-4.  
 
Redshirt freshman Sifa Joyeuse continues to hold the top spot in Conference USA in points per game averaging 19 points and finished tonight's game with 18 points and chipped in 11 boards and three steals.
 
Junior forward Sariana Rodriguez Camacho is coming off a career high performance against UMass dropping 21 points with five three pointers and continued her excellent play against FNU with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and was 3-8 from three-point range.
 
One of the key differences against the Conquistadors was the Panthers defense. They forced 36 turnovers and scored 36 points off the Conquistadors mistakes. Senior guard Kaliah Henderson highlighted the Panthers' efforts on defense recording a career high and program record 11 steals.
 
The battle on the boards was also in favor of the Panthers as FIU outrebounded FNU 59-31. This led to the Panthers scoring 20 second chance points compared to nine by FNU. FIU also had their way scoring near the rim as more than half of their points came in the paint (50).
 
Sophomore guard Zaida Gonzalez rounded off the Panthers who finished in double figures with 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists off the bench.
 
Junior forward Maria Torres opened the scoring for the Panthers in the first quarter with back-to-back layups and finished the game with six points. It was a close game after the first quarter as FIU only led by one point, 19-18.
 
After the Panthers overcame FNU's four-point lead late in the first quarter, FIU would lead the game for the next 30:02 minutes of the game. The Panthers did not look back from that point on as they opened the second quarter scoring 12 unanswered points.
 
FIU's lead doubled in the second half in large part due to outscoring the Conquistadors 33-4 in the fourth quarter. Senior guard Olivia Trice nailed two three pointers during that stretch and finished with seven points. FIU was 8-26 from behind the arc and by the end of the contest, eight Panthers recorded at least one field goal.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers will wrap up their four-game home stand this weekend at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center as they welcome Kennesaw State University this Sunday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed 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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