Frisco, Texas. – The FIU women's basketball team (12-17, 7-13 C-USA) enters the Conference USA Women's Basketball tournament as the No. 8 seed and will take on the No. 9 seed Charlotte 49ers in the first round this Wednesday, March 8 at 12 p.m. ET at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas. 

Wednesday, March 8 vs Charlotte (11-18, 7-13 C-USA)

• Time / Site: 12 p.m. ET/ Ford Center- The Star
• TV: ESPN+
• Live Stats
• Series History: Charlotte leads 11-3

FIU's offense is fifth in C-USA averaging 69.4 points per game and fifth in the league with 182 three pointers made averaging 6.3 per game. The Panthers are 6^th in the conference shooting 73 percent from the charity stripe.
 
The Panthers have a 3-3 record overall record in the C-USA Tournament and last season, FIU beat FAU in the first round before losing to Southern Mississippi in the quarterfinals.  
 
For the season, FIU won both of their matchups against Charlotte, the first time in program history. The Panthers won at Charlotte on Jan. 5, 71-63, the first win on the 49ers home floor since the 2002-2003 season. FIU won at home on Feb. 2, 50-44. During their home win, the Panthers came back from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit to seal the season sweep.
 
Senior guard Kaliah Henderson was a huge factor in that comeback win scoring 16 of her 25 points in the fourth quarter. Henderson finished the regular season as FIU's leading scorer averaging 15.2 points per game, the seventh best scoring mark in C-USA, and ninth in the conference averaging 1.6 steals per game. After scoring 14 points in the season finale against Rice, Henderson has scored double figures in 15 straight games and 18 of the last 19.

Sophomore guard Tanajah Hayes is second on the Panthers averaging 10.1 points per game after a 10-point performance off the bench against the Owls. Hayes has scored double digits in eight straight games and is averaging 11.7 points in that span. She also finished the season second in C-USA averaging 2.4 steals per game and leading FIU in assists averaging 3.6 assists. (4^th in C-USA).
 
On the glass, the Panthers are second in the conference in rebounds averaging 38.9 per game, and first in C-USA averaging 14.9 offensive boards (432 total). Senior center Hope Butera she leads the Panthers averaging 5.6 boards per game and has led the team in that category in 12 games.

Defensively, the Panthers are second in the conference with 272 steals this season averaging 9.38 per game and second in forcing 18.1 turnovers per game for opposing teams. FIU also limits opponents to the third lowest shooting percentage from three-point range at 29.4 percent.
 
SCOUTING CHARLOTTE
The 49ers enter the C-USA tournament with an 11-18 overall record, including a 7-13 mark in conference action, while losing their last six games in a row.

Charlotte is last in the conference averaging 61.9 points per game on 41.3 percent shooting (7^th in C-USA), including an average of 3.9 threes per game on 31 percent from beyond the arc.
 
The 49ers have three players averaging double digit points headlined by redshirt sophomore guard Dazia Lawrence with 16.8 points (4^th in C-USA) while fifth year guard Mikayla Boykin is second averaging 15.6 points and paces them with 6.8 rebounds per game. Fifth year guard Jada McMillian rounds off the trio with 12.6 points and leads C-USA logging 5.1 assists per game.
  
UP NEXT
If the Panthers win their matchup against Charlotte, then they will play Middle Tennessee State University in the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 9 at 12pm ET. 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

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.