Miami, Fla - FIU Women's Hoops will match up against Middle Tennessee in a battle of the last undefeated teams in conference play on Saturday, January 27 at 1 p.m. at the Oceanbank Convocation Center.
Saturday, January 27th vs Middle Tennessee
*since January 9th, 2007
FIU Women's Basketball (14-5, 5-0 CUSA) clinched their eighth consecutive victory, maintaining an unblemished 5-0 record in conference play with a 70-60 triumph over Western Kentucky. The Panthers exhibited their prowess, notably in the second half, propelled by Tanajah Hayes' 15 points and four steals.
The first half witnessed a hard-fought, low-scoring battle, during which the Panthers amassed five steals and forced 11 turnovers. Graduate student Kaliah Henderson spearheaded the effort, contributing seven points and a steal before halftime. She concluded the game with 10 points, five rebounds, and one steal in 33 minutes of play.
The Panthers dominated the third quarter, embarking on a 13-5 run within the first 4:35. Their aggressive rebounding, securing five offensive boards, translated into six second-chance points. Throughout the game, FIU's rebounding prowess prevailed, outclassing the Lady Hilltoppers 46-33 and garnering 17 second-chance points from 17 offensive rebounds. Ajae Yoakum played a significant role in this effort, tallying nine points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks in just 19 minutes.
In the fourth quarter, FIU showcased their efficiency, shooting at a 54.5% rate, including 50% from beyond the arc. With Western Kentucky closing in, the Panthers demonstrated their clutch performance, sinking six free-throws in the final 1:46 and finishing 10-13 from the free-throw line in the last quarter alone. Tanajah Hayes, in particular, displayed composure, going 6-6 from the charity stripe and leading the team with eight points in the closing quarter.
Sophomores Angena Belloso and Mya Kone contributed significantly, both reaching double digits. Belloso, a 5'10 guard, concluded the night with 10 points on 3-4 shooting, including a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc, along with two rebounds and three assists. Mya Kone, the season's leading scorer, contributed 11 points, six rebounds, and a block off the bench. FIU's bench played a pivotal role, amassing 31 points and solidifying their reputation as a nationally recognized second unit. After a 3-4 start to the season, FIU now boasts an impressive 11-1 record, culminating in their latest triumph over WKU.
Scouting Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennesse Women's basketball (15-4, 5-0 CUSA) is coming off a 66-45 win over Jacksonville State Wednesday, January 24th, to stay undefeated in conference play.
The Blue Raiders are the best statistical matchup FIU will see this year, sitting at second in the conference in scoring with 70.8 points per game, trailing only FIU. They lead the conference in points allowed per game with 57.1, as well as field goal percentage (42.9), 3-point percentage (33.3), and are top-3 in every rebounding statistic. On defense, MTSU is first in blocks per game with 4.89, but seventh in steals with 7.42 a game.
Middle Tennessee boasts a high powered offense with three players in the top-10 in scoring in the conference. They are led by the leader in scoring in the conference, Savannah Wheeler, averaging 15.8 points per game on the season. A 2,000 point scorer, the fifth year guard leads the team and conference in both minutes played (36.9) and assists per game (4.3). She is complemented by the 6-6 center out of Russia Anastasiia Boldyreva, coming in fourth in the conference in scoring with 15.1 points per game and fifth in the conference in rebounds per game with 8.3. The junior is first in field goal percentage in the conference, shooting the ball at a 58.5% clip, as well as blocks per game with 3.2. The Blue Raiders' final head of their three-headed monster is recent 1,000 point scorer Jalynn Gregory, who is 10th in the conference in scoring with 12.4 points per game.
This will be FIU and Middle Tennessee's first game of the year. In their last meeting, MTSU defeated FIU 85-46.
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.
