MIAMI, Fla. – The FIU women's basketball team wraps up this week's homestand as they welcome C-USA opponent Western Kentucky University on Saturday Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
Saturday, Jan.14 vs WKU (6-8, 3-2 C-USA)
The Panthers (8-6, 3-2 C-USA) will enter their contest against the Lady Toppers dropping their last game against FAU, 76-66. The loss snaps a four-game winning streak that included a win against last year's Conference USA champions, Charlotte.
Despite the recent loss, the Panthers are still fourth in the conference and have played well at home with a winning record of 6-4.
FIU's offense continues to score at a high rate and is third in C-USA averaging 75.86 points per game. The Panthers are also finding success from behind the arc making 99 three pointers as a team which is fourth most in the conference. They also have the fifth best three-point percentage in the conference at 31.2%.
The Panthers have two players averaging double digit points led by senior guard
Kaliah Henderson averaging 12.8 points per game which is the 12
th best scoring mark in the conference. Henderson is also playing well on the defensive end averaging 2.14 steals per game (3
rd in C-USA).
Redshirt freshman
Sifa Joyeuse is second on the Panthers averaging 12.6 (13
th in C-USA) and is also fourth in the conference with 31 three pointers made. In FIU's previous game, Joyeuse led the Panthers from behind the arc shooting 3-5.
Another factor that has led to FIU's strong start in conference play is their ability to crash the glass. As a team, they are first in the conference averaging 42.00 rebounds per game, and they also pace C-USA averaging 17.00 offensive boards each contest (238 total).
Senior center
Hope Butera has been one of the top rebounders in the conference sitting in 11
th place averaging 5.86 boards per game. Butera has led the charge in FIU's success on the offensive glass pacing the conference with 45 offensive rebounds averaging 3.21 per game.
FIU's defense has excelled this season on initiating turnovers. The Panthers are second in the conference with 163 steals on the season averaging 11.64 steals per game and first in causing 21.29 turnovers per game for opposing teams.
SCOUTING WKU
The Lady Toppers enter Saturday's matchup sixth in the C-USA standings with a 6-8 record on the season, including a 3-2 mark in Conference USA. WKU's most recent conference win was in their previous game against UAB winning, 75-71. WKU looks to extend their win streak to three games going into the OBCC on Saturday.
WKU is fifth in the conference in scoring averaging 67.86 points per game as a team on 38.0% shooting. The Lady Toppers have a slight lead over FIU in steals per game leading the conference with 11.71.
The Lady Toppers like to shoot the ball from three-point range pacing the conference with 404 attempts making 118 of them (second in C-USA). The high volume of three-point attempts has led WKU to make an average of 8.43 per game but are seventh in the conference shooting 29%.
WKU's leading scorer is freshman guard Acacia Hayes pacing the Lady Toppers with 10.9 points per game. Sophomore forward Jaylin Foster is second on the team with 9.6 points and is the leading rebounder averaging 5.9 per game.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will step out of the OBCC for a quick one game road trip against the University of North Texas on Monday, Jan. 16. Tip-off is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. ET and 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
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