Miami, Fla - The FIU Women's Basketball Team (3-2, 0-0 C-USA) will play in the championship game of the FIU Thanksgiving Tournament against William & Mary (1-4, 0-0 CAA). The game will take place on Sunday, November 26th at 2:00 P.M at the Oceanbank Convocation Center. It will be the first game of a back-to-back with FIU Men's Hoops, who will play after the conclusion of the game.
Friday, November 26th vs William & Mary
FIU will go into Sunday's bout coming off a convincing 88-59 win over Bryant in the first round of the FIU Thanksgiving Tournament.
It was the best shooting game of the year for the Panthers. As a team FIU shot 56.6% from the field, and 56.5% from behind the arc, both being the highest clips of the year. They used their hot shooting to go up big early, going 10-11 from the field in the first quarter, including 2-2 from three. They would continue to extend their lead, capitalizing off of Bryant miscues, ending the game with 28 points off turnovers.
Transfer sophomore Mya Kone led the way for the Panthers through much of the game. Coming off the bench for the first time this season, she shot lights out in the game, literally. She went 8-8 from the field including 5-5 from 3-point range, a perfect 100% on the day. She ended the game with 22 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal in 23 minutes played.
Kone was not the only Panther who scored in double digits in the game, with Ajae Yoakum and Angena Belloso both hitting the double digit mark. Yoakum, the senior forward, coming off of a 19-point double-double herself, earned herself a spot in the starting lineup for the first time this season and continued her hot shooting with 14 points on 6-8 shooting. Sophomore Angena Belloso, back in the starting lineup, had herself a nice day as well, ending with 13 points on 4-7 shooting, and 4-4 from the free throw line. She was also a force on the defensive side, grabbing three steals on the day.Â
It was a historic day for the Panthers from behind the arc, hitting 13 3-pointers and tying the program record for most triples in a game. The record was set in 2009 in a 87-71 loss against NC State.
Scouting W&M
The Tribe will come into the game off a 63-53 win over Tennessee State in the first round of the FIU Thanksgiving Tournament.Â
William & Mary is led by graduate Student Nylah Young who is averaging 22.4 points per game in the Tribe's first five games. She also leads the team in rebounds with 6.6 per game. While Young takes the majority of the scoring responsibilities for W&M, Junior Bella Nascimento takes over playmaking for the Tribe, averaging 3.6 assists per game to go along with 11.8 points a game. The former being the most on the team and the latter being the second most.Â
W&M plays in the Coastal Athletic Association. Nylah Young leads the conference in scoring while Bella Nascimento leads the conference in minutes played with 35.8.
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