MIAMI - The FIU Panthers completed a successful home stand on Saturday afternoon, securing a dramatic 65-64 victory over Kennesaw State (8-12, 3-6 CUSA) at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

Down by five with 37 seconds remaining, Kennesaw State mounted a 6-0 run to take a 64-63 lead with just 11 seconds left. With no timeouts remaining, Lucia Fleta raced down the court and found sophomore Judit Valero in the corner. Valero drove past her defender and banked in the go-ahead layup with three seconds on the clock. Kennesaw State's final attempt was off the mark, and the Panthers held on for the win.

FIU's defense set the tone early, limiting Kennesaw State to just 13 points on 33.3 percent shooting in the first quarter. Six Panthers contributed to a 19-point opening frame, with Isnelle Natabou leading the charge, scoring five points in the period. Natabou finished with a season-high 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting, adding seven rebounds and two steals.

The Panthers continued to apply pressure defensively in the second quarter, holding Kennesaw State to 36.4 percent shooting. FIU took a 32-25 lead into the halftime break after limiting Kennesaw State to 35 percent shooting from the field and just 25% from three-point range in the first half.

The second half mirrored the first, with both teams struggling to create significant separation. FIU entered the final quarter with a 46-40 advantage, but Kennesaw State fought back, trimming the lead to one following a 9-0 run late in the fourth. Natabou responded with four points of her own to extend the Panthers' lead to five with 37 seconds remaining. FIU then held on for their fifth conference victory.

Senior Lucia Fleta was the only other Panther in double figures, contributing 11 points, six assists, and two steals.

FIU dominated in the paint and on the boards, out-rebounding Kennesaw State 35-27 and leading in second-chance points (10-4) and points in the paint (34-30).

UP NEXT
FIU will hit the road once again, traveling to Sam Houston for their second bout against the Bearkats this season on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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