MIAMI, Fla. – The FIU women's basketball team is on the road and will take on their in-state rival, Florida Atlantic University, Tuesday, Dec. 13 at the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena in Boca Raton, Fla. at 7:00 p.m.

This matchup will be the first Conference USA game of the season for both teams and both programs are entering Tuesday night's showdown with winning records. The Panthers were 2-0 last year in the regular season against the Owls. They also squared off in the first round of the C-USA tournament and the Panthers were victorious winning, 68-60.
 
Tuesday, Dec. 13 at Florida Atlantic University (6-1, 0-0 C-USA)

• Time / Location: 7:00 p.m. at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena
• TV: ESPN+
• Series: FIU leads 37-15
• Live Stats

The Panthers won their most recent contest against Kennesaw State on Dec. 4, 72-63 pushing their record over the .500 mark at 4-3. FIU is currently second in the conference in points per game averaging 79.8 and second with 61 three pointers made. Leading the offensive charge is redshirt freshman Sifa Joyeuse who was named Conference USA Women's Basketball Freshman of the Week for the period ending Dec. 4.

Joyeuse recorded her first career double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds against FNU and she is now fourth in C-USA in scoring (16.8). She is also tied for the conference lead with 22 three-pointers made while ranking second shooting 39% from behind the arc.
 
Senior guard Kaliah Henderson is second on the Panthers in points per game (11.7). She cracks the top 20 in the conference, but she has found even more success on the defensive end. As a team, FIU leads CUSA with 88 steals and Henderson has accounted for 21 of them to tie for the conference lead. Henderson is averaging three steals a game and not far behind is sophomore guard Tanajah Hayes who is second in CUSA averaging 2.67.
 
SCOUTING FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY 
The Owls were picked to finish 11^th in the CUSA preseason poll after they finished the 2021-2022 season with a 5-25 overall record and 1-17 CUSA record. FAU has already eclipsed their win total from last season and are out to their best start in its D-1 history with a 6-1 record.

The Owls' strength is their defense limiting opponents to 53 points per game on 33% shooting from the field; both marks are first in the conference. FAU's perimeter defense has also shined this season. They have only surrendered 3.71 three pointers per game and opponents are shooting 21% from behind the arc.

Redshirt senior Janeta Rozentale leads the Owls in scoring averaging 11.4 points per game and is the team leader in rebounds per game (7.7). Freshman guard Aniya Hubbard is having a strong start to her collegiate career. She is the second leading scorer (10.9) and rebounder (6.1) for the Owls.

Another freshman that has stepped up recently for the Owls is center Dyllan Hanna. She was announced CUSA Freshman of the Week for the week ending on Dec.11. The Saint Augustine, Florida native recorded a career-best 18 points against FNU while also pulling down six rebounds in the Owls' dominant 61-point win.

UP NEXT
The Panthers will have six days off until they return to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center and host the FIU Holiday Hoops Showdown from Dec.19-20. FIU will be one of four teams competing in the tournament and their first game is against George Mason University on Monday, Dec. 19 at 12 p.m. The game will be streamed on CUSA.tv
 
TICKETS
For more information on FIU tickets to FIU basketball home games, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit HERE
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@fiuwbb), Twitter (@FIUWBB), and Facebook (@FIUWBasketball) for all the latest Women's Basketball news. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.