MIAMI - FIU women's basketball (9-13, 5-6 CUSA) will return to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center for their second matchup of the season against the University of Texas - El Paso (9-12, 2-8 CUSA) on Thursday, February 13 at 11 a.m.
Thursday, Feb. 13th vs UTEP
Roughly 2,000 4th and 5th grade students are expected to participate in FIU STEAM-Weather Day from 9-11 a.m. before watching the FIU women's basketball game at 11 a.m. versus UTEP.
The educational expo is a collaborative effort among FIU Athletics, FIU Engineering and the FIU Extreme Events Institute which takes place outside of the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. Students will have the opportunity to learn from and engage with numerous educational entities within FIU, including: meteorology, SEAS, Wall of Wind, physics, engineering student chapters, FIUteach, Emergency Management, Police, and several others.
Additionally, numerous local partners will also be partaking, including: NOAA-NHC, NWS-Miami, Miami-Dade Emergency Management, M-D Fire Rescue, M-D Public Libraries, Frost Science, Miami Children's Museum, American Red Cross, Salvation Army and local TV meteorologists.
QUICK FACTS
This will be the 18th meeting between the two programs, with FIU winning the last four out of six matchups.
FIU ranks second in Conference USA in field goal percentage (45.4%). The Panthers are also second in offensive rebounds per game (12.6) and first in opponent rebounds per game, allowing just 29.3 rebounds per game. FIU ranks second in the conference and 26th nationally in rebound margin at +6.9.
Senior Isnelle Natabou has been one of the top players in CUSA since conference play began. She has scored in double figures in her last ten games, including a season-high 26 points against Louisiana Tech. The center has also grabbed four or more offensive rebounds in every conference game this season but one.
Natabou ranks third in CUSA in scoring during conference play, averaging 16.6 points per game after scoring 15 or more points in six of her last seven games. The Czech-native has also been a dominant rebounder, sitting at fifth in CUSA in rebounding with 8.5 rebounds per game. Overall, she is second in CUSA in offensive rebounding, averaging 4.1 per game, and ranking 15th nationally.
Natabou leads the nation in field goal percentage at 71,4%, and she is third among active players in career field goal percentage at 64.2%.
Junior Parris Atkins ranks fifth in CUSA in scoring with 14.4 points per game this season and fifth in field goal percentage at 46.6%.Â
During CUSA play, Isnelle Natabou ranks first in field goal percentage at 72.9%, 12.9% better than the next highest player.
SCOUTING THE MINERS
UTEP heads into the matchup last in CUSA with a 2-8 conference record, with FIU being the last team the Miners have defeated in their last six games.
Since conference play began, UTEP ranks eighth in CUSA in scoring, putting up 59.9 points per game, while allowing 70.3 points per game, good for ninth in the conference. A physical rebounding team, the Miners sit at third in defensive rebounds per game with 26.9, and fourth in total rebounds per game, bringing down 36.6 board a contest.
UTEP is led by senior guard Ivane Tensaie, who leads the team in scoring with 13.8 points per game, good for seventh in CUSA. Shooting the ball at a 40.3% clip, she is seventh in the conference in field goal percentage, and hit 2.4 three-pointers per game, second in CUSA. She is complimented by fellow guard Portia Adams, who is second on the team in scoring with 10.4 points per game this season. The Texas native is second on the Miners is assists per game with 2.5, and is tied for the team-lead with one steal a game.
FIU is looking to avenge their defeat to the Miners earlier this season, when UTEP hit a last-second shot to beat the Panthers in El-Paso.
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.
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