EL PASO, Texas - FIU Women's Basketball to stay on the west coast and take on University of Texas - El Paso on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Saturday, Jan. 18th at UTEP

• Time/Site: 2:30 p.m. ET / Don Haskins Center

• Series History: UTEP leads 12-6

Quick Facts 

• FIU has won four of the last five matchups against UTEP, the best stretch against the Miners in program history.

 

• The Panthers swept the Miners last season, their only time in program history doing so when playing them twice in a season.

 

• Isnelle Natabou has been playing her best ball of the season, scoring double-digit points in four of the Panthers' last five games, and corralling five or more offensive rebounds in all five contests. She is 2nd in CUSA in offensive rebounds per game at 4.1, and 22nd in the NCAA.

 

• Natabou is fourth among active players in career field-goal percentage at 63.5%

 

• FIU is 1st in CUSA during conference play in FG% at 46.3%. The team is second in offensive rebounds per game with 13, but are first in opponent rebounds per game during conference play, holding CUSA opponents to just 28.5 rebounds per game.

 

• FIU is first in the conference and 20th in the country in rebound margin at +9.

 

• Junior Parris Atkins is 5th in CUSA in scoring with 14.3 points per game this season, and 6th in field goal percentage at 46.9%. Additionally, she is tied for 6th in steals per game with 2.6, and fifth in total steals with 41.

 

• Isnelle Natabou (75%) and Parris Atkins (55.6%) are first and third respectively during CUSA play in field goal percentage.

 

• Angena Belloso is ninth in the conference in assists per game with 2.7

SCOUTING THE MINERS

UTEP started the season well, going 7-4 in non-conference play, but have had a lackluster beginning of CUSA-play, going 1-3 through their first four games. The Miners are eighth in offense this season, scoring 63 points per game, but are fourth in defense, allowing 62.7 points per game. A good three-point shooting team, UTEP is second in the conference in three-point percentage at 33.2%.

The Miners are led by senior Ivane Tensaie who leads the team with 13.1 points per game, 10th in the conference so far this season. At 41.7% from beyond the arc, the guard leads CUSA in three-point percentage.

Junior Portia Adams is the only other Miner to average double-digit scoring this season at 10.4 points per game. Fellow junior Ndack Mbengue leads the team in rebounding with seven a game, coming in at sixth in the conference so far this season. 

This will be the 19th meeting all-time between the two programs. FIU has had UTEP's number recently, winning in four of their last five matchups and sweeping last season's matchups by an average of 23.6 points.

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 @FIUSportson Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.