BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - FIU women's basketball will end its first road trip of CUSA-play in Bowling Green for a matchup against Western Kentucky on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 3 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 4th at Western Kentucky

• Time/Site: 3:00 p.m. ET / E.A. Diddle Arena

• Series History: WKU leads 35-10

The Panthers are coming off a loss to Middle Tennessee in their first game of conference play, 69-38.

FIU played well defensively in the first half, holding Middle Tennessee to just 30 points on 39.3% shooting and just 18.2% from beyond the arc. Despite the great defense, FIU would go into the half down 30-19. 

The second half saw Middle Tennessee slowly build their lead, with the Panthers not able to build on their defensive momentum from the first half, resulting in FIU's first loss of conference-play.

Senior forward Isnelle Natabou and sophomore guard Fantasia James led the team with eight points each, with Natabou also grabbing seven rebounds and James bringing in five rebounds and a steal.

SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS

Western Kentucky has started off the season very well, going 9-3 in non-conference play, but have dropped their last two in a row, including its first game of CUSA-play, putting the Hilltoppers at 0-1 in the conference slate. WKU leads the conference in scoring offense with 75.9 points per game, but are last in scoring defense, allowing 65.9 points per game. 

They are led by senior guard Alexis Mead who leads the team in both scoring with 13.8 points per game (seventh in CUSA), assists with four a game (fourth in CUSA) and steals with 2.6 a game (fourth in CUSA). 

Two more guards for the Hilltoppers are averaging double-digits on the year, with graduate student Destiny Salary averaging 12.5 points per game, good for 12th in conference, and Acacia Hayes averaging 12.2 points per game, 15th in CUSA. 

Last season, FIU completed the season sweep over Western Kentucky with a dramatic buzzer beater triple by Tanajah Hayes to give the Panthers the win in the final seconds. It was the first time FIU had swept the Hilltoppers in a season since 2011.

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.