MIAMI - FIU women's basketball is back at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center playing host to the annual FIU Thanksgiving Classic when they welcome UMBC, Presbyterian and Seattle to Miami. The Panthers will start the tournament against UMBC on Friday, November 28 at 11 a.m., with the next game to be determined on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 28 vs UMBC
Sunday, Nov. 30 vs TBD
QUICK FACTS
FIU is undefeated in five matchups against the Retrievers, with their last matchup coming in 1991 in an 81-66 victory for the Panthers.
Rhema Collins, is playing her best basketball of her career in the early part of the 2025-26 campaign. The junior is currently 5th in CUSA in scoring with 16.7 points per game, and already has two double-doubles on the season, the most recent coming against Jacksonville (19 points/10 rebounds).
Parris Atkins has double-digit performances in every game played so far this season, coming into the matchup sixth in the conference in scoring with 15.3 points per game. Her highest scoring match of the young season came against UCF in a 20-point performance, her third 20-point performance of her career.
FIU's matchup against Bethune-Cookman marked many firsts for the 2025-26 Panthers, starting with the team's first win of the season. Senior Parris Atkins, junior Rhema Collins and Riley Burd each played their first game of the season against B-CU. Additionally, three players in junior Riley Burd (three points), junior Adama Badjie Coly (nine points) and sophomore Astrid Mukulumpe (two points) all scored their first Division 1 points.
Early CUSA Leaders:
Scoring:
Rhema Collins, 5th - 16.7 ppg
Parris Atkins, 6th - 15.3 ppg
Rebounding:
Rhema Collins, 7th - 9 rpg
Field Goal %:
Rhema Collins, 8th - 46.9%
Free-throw %:
Parris Atkins, 7th - 77.8%
Assists:
Grecia Ferrer, 1st - 5.3 apg
Blocks:
Rhema Collins, 4th - 1.3 bpg
Steals:
Parris Atkins, 2nd - 3.3 spg
Junior Denika Lightbourne had a career day in the Panthers' first game of the season against USF (11.3.25). The Bahamas native dropped 21 points and eight rebounds, both of which were career highs.
Sophomore Ndate Ndiaye also had a nice opening matchup at USF (11.3.25), putting up a career-high 12 points on 4-8 shooting, including 3-5 from three. She added on five rebounds, one assist and one block.
FIU welcomes back five returners to Miami in senior Parris Atkins, redshirt-sophomore Fantasia James, junior Judit Valero and sophomores Ndate Ndiaye and Claudia Marina.
Parris Atkins and Fantasia James were both honored with CUSA All-Conference awards last season. Parris Atkins, then in her first season as a Panther, was an immediate contributor and made the CUSA All-Conference Second Team. James, a redshirt freshman at the time, was named to the CUSA All-Freshman Team for her performance during the 2024-25 season.
FIU has the most international players rostered in Conference USA. The Panthers boast 12 of their 14 players born outside of the United States.
FIU is coming off a 2024-25 season that saw the Panthers go 11-18 overall and 7-11 in conference-play, ending sixth in the conference.
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.
