MIAMI,  Fla - Mya Kone goes off for 28 points as she leads FIU to a 75-50 win over Jacksonville State for the Panthers' first win in conference play on Saturday afternoon from the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

The Panthers (10-5) earned their fourth straight win in addition to winners of seven of their last eight games played. The 10-5 mark is the best start through 15 games for the program since the 2011-2012 season.

FIU played lockdown defense from the start, finishing the first quarter with seven forced turnovers, capitalizing with 11 points off turnovers in the opening frame. Tanajah Hayes swiped one of the three steals in the quarter, accounting for her first of four steals on the day, her second most on the season. The guard had her highest steal total in the Panthers' first game against Florida National (5). The junior ended with nine points, two rebounds and a team high seven assists in the win. 

FIU kept their foot on the gas into the second quarter, putting up 18 points in the frame after scoring 20 in the first. Senior Ajae Yoakum saw to that, putting up an efficient 12 points on 4-6 shooting in the first half. The Oregon native ended her afternoon with 19 points, tying her second most point total of the season, only to her 30-point performance against Alabama A&M. She corralled seven rebounds and a steal on top of her great scoring day. 

The Panthers never let Jacksonville State get close, beating them in every statistical category of the game. Despite the Gamecocks being the conference leader in defensive rebounds per game, FIU outrebounded them 31-23. Similarly, FIU beat JSU in bench points as well, 45-32, despite Jacksonville State leading the conference in points off the bench. This was thanks in part to Mya Kone's monstrous game, scoring 28 points in the win, going 9-15 from the field including 6-9 from beyond the arc. Kone did the majority of her work in the first half, putting up 20 points in the first 20 minutes. The sophomore's 28 points is her highest point total of the season, surpassing her previous high of 22 points against Bryant. The 6'2 guard sweetened her big scoring day with 11 rebounds, two blocks and a steal to round off her fifth double-double of the season. 

Every FIU member got minutes in the win, with eight Panthers putting up points on the day. This is the first time all 12 active rostered players are fully healthy since November 18th. 

UP NEXT
The Panthers will play the first of a two-game road trip against New Mexico State on Thursday, January 11th at 8 p.m. eastern time. It will be their second conference game of the year and first road game since their win over Florida Atlantic on December 14th. 

TICKETS
For more information on FIU tickets to FIU basketball home games, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit HERE. 

SOCIAL MEDIA
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