EL PASO, Texas - Women's basketball (7-10, 3-3 CUSA) fell to University of Texas - El Paso (9-7, 2-3 CUSA) on the road Saturday afternoon, 70-68

After tying the game late in the fourth quarter, the Miners hit a shot to take the lead with two seconds left, sending the Panthers back to Miami with their third loss of conference play.

FIU started the game well, going up early in the first quarter behind the scoring efforts of forwards Isnelle Natabou and Bineta Diatta, as well as guard Parris Atkins, all of whom had seven points in the opening frame. Atkins, a junior out of Little Rock, Ark., scored a game high 21 points on 8-14 shooting, adding on seven rebounds and four assists to round out her high-volume afternoon.

FIU kept the pressure on UTEP in the second quarter, scoring 17 points, led by Bineta Diatta with six, and went into the halftime break leading 40-29. The senior ended in double-digits for the seventh time this season, finishing with 17 points and nine rebounds.

The third quarter saw a high scoring shootout between the two programs, with UTEP ending with 19 in the frame, and FIU ending with 17. The Panthers went into the final quarter with a 57-48 lead.

The fourth quarter saw the Miners inch their way closer to the Panthers until they took the lead with two seconds remaining in the game. A last second shot from the Panthers was no good, sending the FIU home with its second conference loss in a row. 

Two other seniors in Isnelle Natabou and Aaliyah Pitts ended the game in double-digits. Natabou finished with 16 points on 6-8 shooting, also corralling eight rebounds and coming away with three steals. Pitts scored 10 points in the contest, also bringing down five rebounds and dishing out two assists.

UP NEXT
FIU will travel to Lynchburg to face off against Liberty in one week on Saturday, January 25 at 1 p.m.

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