Miami, Fla - FIU Women's Hoops earn their way back into the win column with a victory over Yale, 82-60. Four Panthers find themselves in double-digits, with Parris Atkins and Isnelle Natabou leading the way with 17 a piece.
The first quarter started as a back-and-forth affair, with the team trading buckets until the first quarter buzzer sounded. Sophomore Angena Belloso led the way for FIU in the opening frame with eight points on a perfect 4-4 from the floor. The guard would end the match with her second double-digit point total in as many games with 16 points on 7-9 shooting and 2-3 from three, to go along with six rebounds and four steals. FIU would lead heading into the second quarter 22-18.
The second quarter was much of the same, with both teams scoring and Yale keeping the game close into the half. FIU retained a five point lead going into the break, 38-33.
The Panthers broke away from the Bulldogs in the third quarter, trading baskets with Yale until they went on 14-0 run from the 4:37-0:50 mark of the penultimate period, led by senior Aaliyah Pitts with seven points in the run. The guard had her best game as a Panther, ending the match with 11 points, four rebounds and three assists. FIU headed into the fourth quarter with a commanding 59-43 lead.
The Panthers did not take their foot off the gas, putting up 23 points in the frame ultimately burying the Bulldogs. Sophomore Fantasia James put up eight in the quarter, and ended with eight in the game, her second highest point total of the season.
Junior Parris Atkins and senior Isnelle Natabout led the charge for FIU with 17 points each. Atkins shot 5-10 from the field and finished all seven of her free-throw attempts, as well as grabbing four rebounds, dishing and two assists and taking away two steals. Natabou shot 6-8 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds, blocking one shot as well. The fifth-year grabbed her 800th career rebound in the contest, now putting her in the 1,000 point/800 rebound club.
FIU dominated down low, out-rebounding the Bulldogs an astonishing 43-19, subsequently winning the second-chance points battle as well, 15-2. Of their 82 points, FIU scored 50 of them in the paint, holding Yale to just 20. The entire roster played well for the Panthers, with 40 of their points coming from the second unit.
UP NEXT
FIU will hit the road to take on UT Arlington for their next matchup on Monday, December 16 at 5 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+ with live stats available.
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