BOCA RATON, Fla. - FIU women's basketball will travel up to Boca Raton for the first of two matchups this season against their in-state rival, Florida Atlantic, on Monday, December 15 at 7 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 15 at Florida Atlantic

• Time/Site: 7 p.m. / Abessinio Court at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena

• Series History: FIU leads, 34-17

QUICK FACTS

The Panthers hold a commanding 35-17 lead in the all-time series against the Owls. The matchup has been more even in recent years, with head coach Jesyka Burks-Wiley being 5-5 against the FIU rival.

After the 103-point performance against Georgia State, the Panthers are now second in the CUSA in scoring on the season with 74.3 points scored per game.

Rhema Collins scored a career-high 40 points against Georgia State. It is the most points scored in CUSA this season, and the most any player in CUSA has scored since the 2022-23 season. It's the first time an FIU player has had a 40-point performance since 2017, and she is only the seventh player since at least 1994 to achieve 40 points in a game as a Panther.

Rhema Collins has been a force all season, coming into the matchup tied for first in CUSA in double-doubles with four in six games so far. On the season, Collins is first in CUSA with 20.7 points per game, fifth with 9.8 rebounds per game and tied for third in blocks per game with 1.5.

Parris Atkins has been as advertised from her CUSA Preseason All-Conference selection. The guard is fourth in CUSA, averaging 16.8 points per game, and has been all over the court on defense. With 4.8 steals per game, she is first in CUSA and second in the nation in steals. 
 

Early CUSA Leaders:

Scoring:

Rhema Collins, 1st - 20.7 ppg

Parris Atkins, 4th - 16.8 ppg

Rebounding:

Rhema Collins, 5th - 9.8 rpg

Field Goal %:

Rhema Collins, 2nd - 54.4%

Assists:

Grecia Ferrer, 1st - 4.9 apg

Total Assists:

Grecia Ferrer, 1st - 34 assists

Blocks:

Rhema Collins, T3 - 1.5 bpg

Steals:

Parris Atkins, 1st - 4.8 spg (2nd in NCAA)
 

Sophomore Ndate Ndiaye scored her career-high against Seattle with 13 points, all coming in the first half. She surpassed her previous career-high of 12 points which came against USF in the first game of the 2025-26 season.

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.

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. 

SCOUTING THE OWLS

Florida Atlantic is off to an early 5–4 start with three games remaining in its non-conference slate. The Owls have already defeated two Conference USA opponents this season, Kennesaw State and Western Kentucky, with the Panthers serving as their third CUSA matchup.

Through nine games, Florida Atlantic ranks tenth in The American in scoring at 63.0 points per game. Defense has been a strength for the Owls, as they are allowing just 63.6 points per contest, fourth-best in the conference. FAU has also been effective from beyond the arc, entering the matchup third in The American in three-point shooting percentage at 32 percent.

The Owls are led by junior forward Vivian Onugha, who is averaging a team-high 10.0 points per game while ranking second on the team in rebounding at 6.3 boards per contest. Guard Destyne Jackson is the next-leading scorer, averaging 8.9 points per game through nine appearances, and ranks second on the team in steals at two per game.

This contest marks the first of two meetings between the in-state rivals this season, as FIU will welcome Florida Atlantic to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center later this week as part of the FIU Holiday Classic.

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.