MIAMI, Fla. – The FIU Women's Basketball team released its full 2024-25 schedule on Wednesday, highlighted by a matchup against cross-town rival Miami for the first time in five seasons, as well as the annual FIU Thanksgiving Tournament and Christmas Classic. Out of the Panthers' 11 non-conference games, nine will be played at home.
Head Coach Jesyka Burks-Wiley will continue to be at the helm for the Panthers, her fifth season in Miami. FIU has seen steady growth under the leadership of Burks-Wiley, with last season being the best of her tenure in the team's first 20-win season and Postseason WNIT berth since the 2011-2012 campaign.
The Panthers will be welcoming back last season's CUSA Sixth Woman of the Year and All-CUSA First Team selection, Mya Kone, as well as All-CUSA Second Team and CUSA All-Defensive Team selection, Tanajah Hayes.
The 2024-25 schedule consists of 11 non-conference games, nine home and two away, as well as 18 conference matchups, an even nine home and nine away, totaling 29 games in the regular season.
The Panthers will begin the regular season at home versus Florida National on November 4. Last season, FIU beat the Conquistadors 113-30 in their opening matchup of the season.
The Panthers continue the homestand against Abilene Christian on November 8, taking on the Wildcats for the first time since the 2020-21 season when FIU won 78-61. FIU will again be home when they take on Jacksonville on November 13, facing off against the Dolphins for the second year in a row after taking down their in-state foe, 88-81 last season.
FIU will not have to travel far for their next matchup, taking on Miami in Coral Gables on November 19. It will be the first time the cross-town rivals match up since the 2018-19 season. The Panthers will be searching for their first victory against the ACC opponent since the 2007-08 season when FIU won 60-58.
On Nov. 23, the Panthers will welcome rival Florida Atlantic to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center for Vice Night after beating the Owls last season 65-62 in Boca Raton. FIU will then welcome Wagner, Sacramento State and Abilene Christian to Miami for the annual FIU Thanksgiving Tournament on November 29-December 1. The Panthers will face off against Wagner in the first round with Sacramento State taking on Abilene Christian. The next matchups will be determined based on the results of round one.
FIU's next matchup will come against Ivy League school Yale on December 7. The Panthers and Bulldogs have not seen each other since the 1988-89 season, when they played their one and only matchup which saw FIU come out victorious in a 77-62 win.
FIU will then hit the road and travel to Arlington to face University of Texas - Arlington on December 16 in their first game since 1996 when the Mavericks took down the Panthers 48-44 in the programs' lone matchup against each other.
The Panthers will return home for their last matchups before conference play when they welcome Hampton, George Washington and Miami (OH) in the FIU Christmas Classic. FIU's first game will be against Hampton on December 20, then go up against Miami (OH) on December 21 in their last game before the new year.
Conference USA action kicks off with a road trip, starting with a matchup against the 2024 CUSA Champions, Middle Tennessee, in Murfreesboro on January 2. The Panthers will follow that with a visit to Bowling Green to face Western Kentucky on January 4. Last season, FIU managed to stay undefeated against WKU, marking their first sweep of the Hilltoppers since the 2010-11 season.
The Panthers' initial home games of the conference schedule are set for January 9 and 11, when they will take on Louisiana Tech and Sam Houston, respectively. FIU had a strong performance against both teams last season, going 2-0 against both schools and achieving a sweep of LA Tech for the first time in the program's history.
After their home stand, FIU will have a trio of away matchups, first heading west to face New Mexico State on January 16 and UTEP on January 18. The Panthers had a dominant showing against UTEP last season, securing victories in both games by over 20 points and completing the season sweep.
On January 25, FIU will travel to Lynchburg, Virginia to take on Liberty. The Flames reached the conference tournament finals last season but fell to Middle Tennessee. FIU split their matchups with Liberty last year, winning at home but losing on the road.
FIU will then host Jacksonville State and Conference USA newcomer Kennesaw State at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center on January 30 and February 1, respectively. Following that, the Panthers will visit Ruston, Louisiana to play Louisiana Tech on February 6, and then travel to Huntsville, Texas to face Sam Houston on February 8, both for the second time this season.
Returning home, FIU will once again face New Mexico State on February 13 and UTEP again on February 15. The matchup against UTEP will be on FIU's annual STEAM Day, inviting local schools for a day of science education and Panthers basketball. FIU will then welcome Liberty to Miami on February 22 for the final regular season matchup between the two schools.
For the final stretch of the regular season, the Panthers will head back on the road to take on Kennesaw State on February 27, followed by a game against Jacksonville State in Jacksonville, Alabama on March 1.
FIU will close out the regular season with two home games, facing Western Kentucky on March 6 and Middle Tennessee on March 8 before heading to Huntsville, Alabama for the Conference USA Basketball Championships at the Propst Arena from March 11-15.
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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