MIAMI - FIU Women's Basketball (8-11, 4-4 CUSA) broke their three-game skid and got themselves back in the win column, taking down Jacksonville State (9-10, 3-5 CUSA), 62-52.
Back-and-forth throughout the first half, the Panthers took a 41-40 lead over Jax State off an Aaliyah Pitts three with 6:30 to go in the third quarter and never gave it back, holding the Gamecocks to just 24% from the field in the second half.
Both teams started the game off hot, with Jacksonville State ending the first quarter with 20 points on 72.7% shooting, and FIU scoring 16 on 66.7% from the field.
The Panthers kept their hot hand in the next frame, putting up 19 points on 50% shooting. FIU was trailing heading into halftime, until redshirt freshman Fantasia James drained a halfcourt shot as the halftime buzzer expired, giving FIU a 35-34 lead going into the break.
James had her best game of her young career, scoring a career-high 16 points on 6-10 shooting, adding on five rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals.
Out of the half, the Panthers' defense rose to the occasion, holding the Gamecocks to just 11 points on 25% shooting, extending the FIU lead to eight heading into the final frame, 53-45. True freshman Claudia Marina, starting her first game of her career, hit two threes in the quarter, ended the game with eight rebounds, two rebounds and one steal.
FIU's lockdown defense extended into the fourth quarter, never letting JSU get closer than a seven point deficit. Senior Aaliyah Pitts led the way with five points in the final 10 minutes, ending the contest with a game-high 17 points and eight rebounds, adding on three assists and three steals to her line.
Senior Isnelle Natabou extended her double-digit scoring streak to seven games and notched her third double-double of the season with her 10 point, 10 rebound performance.
Points off turnovers and second-chance points changed the game in the Panthers' favor, with FIU scoring 25 points off turnovers to the Gamecocks' 15, and putting back 11 second-chance points to JSU's three.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will be back at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center to take on CUSA newcomer Kennesaw State in a Saturday afternoon matchup on Feb. 1 at 1 p.m.
TICKETS
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