MIAMI – FIU Women's Basketball (1-1) cruised past Bethune-Cookman (1-3) in its first home game of the 2025-26 season on Saturday afternoon, earning an 81-68 victory.
Both teams came out firing in the opening quarter, with the Panthers posting a season-high 22 points in the frame to the Wildcats' 18. Sophomore Claudia Marina led FIU early with five points in the first 10 minutes. She finished the game with nine points and went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
FIU stretched its lead before halftime, putting up 19 points in the second quarter while limiting Bethune-Cookman to just 11, taking a 41-29 advantage into the break. Making her season debut, guard Parris Atkins tallied six points in the quarter and finished the afternoon with 13 points, two assists, and a career-high-tying five steals.
The third quarter saw both teams trade baskets, each scoring 20 points and keeping FIU's lead at 12 heading into the final frame. Junior Rhema Collins, also appearing in her first game of the season, closed the quarter with seven points. She ended the day with a team-high 17 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals, recording the first double-double of her career.
FIU sealed the win with another strong offensive showing in the fourth, adding 20 points while holding the Wildcats to 19, securing its first victory of the season.
Fantasia James, a CUSA All-Freshman Team honoree, rounded out FIU's double-digit scorers with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, adding five rebounds, one assist, and one block.
The Panthers held decisive advantages in points off turnovers (33-17), bench points (44-19), and points in the paint (40-20).
UP NEXT
The Panthers will hit the road when they bus up to Orlando for a morning matchup against UCF on November 18 at 11 a.m., to be broadcasted on ESPN+.
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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