MIAMI - FIU women's basketball will host the annual FIU Holiday Classic on December 19 and 20, welcoming Youngstown State, UMass and Florida Atlantic to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. The Panthers will play Youngstown State on December 19, and Florida Atlantic for the second time this season on December 20.

Friday, Dec. 19 vs Youngstown State

• Time/Site: 11 a.m. / Ocean Bank Convocation Center

• Series History: FIU leads, 2-0

Saturday, Dec. 20 vs Florida Atlantic

• Time/Site: 1:30 p.m. / Ocean Bank Convocation Center

• Series History: FIU leads, 35-17

QUICK FACTS

This will be the first time in the Burks-Wiley era the Panthers play the YSU. FIU is 2-0 all-time against Penguins, the last game coming in 2000 when FIU won 84-68.

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 6-5 against the FIU rival. The Panthers beat the Owls already earlier this season, 80-63.

The Panthers are second in the CUSA in scoring on the season with 75 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 five. On the season, Collins is first in CUSA with 20 points per game, second with 10.7 rebounds per game and second in blocks per game with 1.6.

Parris Atkins has been as advertised from her CUSA Preseason All-Conference selection. The guard is second in CUSA, averaging 17.3 points per game, and has been all over the court on defense. With 4.6 steals per game, she is first in CUSA and third in the nation in steals. 

Early CUSA Leaders:

Scoring:

Rhema Collins, 1st - 20 ppg

Parris Atkins, 2nd - 17.3 ppg

 

Rebounding:

Rhema Collins, 2nd - 10.7 rpg

 

Field Goal %:

Rhema Collins, 3rd - 49.5%

 

Assists:

Grecia Ferrer, 1st - 4.8 apg

 

Total Assists

Grecia Ferrer, 1st - 38 assists

 

Blocks:

Rhema Collins, 2nd - 1.6 bpg

 

Steals:

Parris Atkins, 1st - 4.6 spg (3rd 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. 

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.