Miami, Fla.- Redshirt junior Mihaela Lazic led the Panthers with 15 points on 6-11 shooting (55%) from the field, 3-6 from three point range, though, the FIU Women's Basketball team dropped its home finale against Rice University, 96-84, at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center Saturday afternoon.
 
FIU finishes the 2022-2023 season with a 12-17 overall record and a 7-13 record in conference action, while the Owls (22-7, 13-7 C-USA) have won six of their last seven games.

The Panthers erased an 18-point deficit thanks to a 15-0 scoring run with 6:32 left in the third quarter when they were trailing 51-39. FIU outscored the Owls in the third quarter 28-12 and took a 58-57 lead into the fourth. Unfortunately, the Panthers were unable to hold off the Owls as they poured in 39 points in the final frame.

Senior guard Kaliah Henderson was second on the Panthers with 14 points off the bench and was 6-8 from the charity stripe. Henderson closes out the regular season scoring double digit points in 15 straight games and 18 of the last 19.

Sophomore point guard Tanajah Hayes another lift off the Panthers' bench scoring 10 points and chipped in four assists and two rebounds. Hayes has scored double figure points in eight straight games and averaged 11.7 points in that span.

Senior guard Olivia Trice started on Senior Day and in her final home game as a Panther, Trice finished with nine points and was 6-6 from the free throw line.  
Sophomore guard Zaida Gonzalez earned her 11^th start of the season and recorded nine points and was tied with senior center Hope Butera for a team high seven rebounds.
 
FIU shot well from behind the arc making seven three pointers on 39% shooting (7-18) while shooting42% from the field (26-62). The Panthers forced the Owls to 12 turnovers and scored 17 points off it while recording seven steals.
 
Rice finished with four players in double figures. Katelyn Crosthwait led all players with 22 points while Dominique Ellis was second on the Owls with 16 points. Jazzy Owns paced Rice with five assists and was third on the team with 15 points.

UP NEXT
The Panthers will head to Frisco, Texas to compete in the Conference USA tournament. Seeding and game times are yet to be determined as the tournament begins on Wednesday, March 8. More information on the tournament will be posted on fiusports.com

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