MIAMI, Fla - Ajae Yoakum scored a career-high 30 points, Tuesday afternoon as the FIU women's basketball team takes game two of the MTE Christmas Classic in a convincing 87-63 win over Alabama A&M at the Oceanbank Convocation Center.
It was a back and forth battle to start the meeting between the two squads. FIU lived in the paint all day, scoring more points in the paint in the first quarter (10) than the Bulldogs did all first half (8). The Panthers played a physical game, getting into the bonus with 1:52 left in the first quarter. A 6-0 run over the last 2:32 of the first quarter put the Panthers on top and they did not look back.
FIU stifled the Bulldogs offense in the second quarter, holding them to just 10 points, including a six-minute scoring drought to end the half. On the flip side, FIU went on a 6-0 run during the Bulldogs drought, ending the half up 34-20, pulling away to an eventual blowout victory. Senior Ajae Yoakum led the charge in the quarter, going on a 7-0 by herself and ending the quarter with 10 points and three rebounds. The forward had a career day, putting up a career-high 30 points on 10-11 from the field, substantially passing her previous high of 19 points in the win. The Oregon native rounded out her day with seven rebounds and a season best 10-11 from the free throw line.
Alabama A&M mounted a small comeback at the start of the second half, cutting the Panthers' lead down to single digits with a 6-0 run over 44 seconds at the 2:39 mark. Bully ball was the difference maker in the third quarter, with FIU putting up seven second chance points off of four offensive rebounds. The Panthers won the rebound battle 39-29, contributing to their 14 second chance points for the game, while holding Alabama A&M to only four.
The fourth quarter would prove to be all FIU, with seven Panthers scoring in the quarter totalling 27 points. The Bulldogs only put up 14 points in the final 10, led by Mya Kone's three blocked shots in the frame. The Sophomore ended the game with 18 points and 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the year.
A pair of graduate students in Courtney Prenger and Kaliah Henderson also ended the game with double-digit points. Prenger finished with 11 points on 4-8 shooting to go along with four rebounds and two blocks. The Panthers' most recent 1,000 point scorer in Henderson completed her game with 10 points, four assists and two rebounds to round out a dominant win for the Panthers.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will look to close out the Christmas Classic against Chicago State Wednesday afternoon at 12 p.m. at the Oceanbank Convocation Center.
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