DALLAS, Texas – FIU women's basketball has been honored with three players earning spots on the 2025 CUSA Conference Awards, highlighted by Isnelle Natabou winning CUSA Newcomer of the Year, as announced by league officials Monday afternoon.
Other honorees for the Panthers include junior Parris Atkins, also in her first season with FIU, who earned a spot on the CUSA All-Conference Second Team, and redshirt freshman Fantasia James, who made the CUSA All-Freshman Team.
Isnelle Natabou, a senior transfer in her final collegiate season, was a dominant force for the Panthers all year. She was named CUSA Newcomer of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Conference USA First Team. The center was exceptional in conference play, ranking fourth in the conference with 16.2 points per game and sixth with 7.7 rebounds per game.
The Czech Republic native was incredibly efficient, finishing the season second in the nation in field goal percentage at 61.9%. In CUSA play, she posted a remarkable 66.5% field goal percentage, 8.9% higher than the next best mark. Natabou's season-high was 26 points in a game at Louisiana Tech, one of eight games in which she scored 20 or more points. In 18 conference games, she scored in double figures 16 times. Standing at 6'5", she was also a force on the boards, recording 5+ rebounds in 22 of her 29 games. Natabou finished the season with five double-doubles, all of which came against CUSA opponents.
Parris Atkins was FIU's primary scorer from the guard position, finishing the season with 13.7 points per game, ranking eighth in Conference USA. She earned a spot on the All-Conference USA Second Team. Atkins scored 20+ points twice during CUSA play, including a career-high 23 points in a win over Western Kentucky. She was highly efficient, finishing seventh in the conference with a 46.1% field goal percentage. Atkins also proved to be a tenacious defender, ranking third in CUSA with 2.4 steals per game. She had 10 games with 3 or more steals, including three games with five steals. A well-rounded player, Atkins posted 11 games with 5+ rebounds and ended the season as FIU's fourth-leading rebounder, averaging 4.9 rebounds per game. This is the first time in Atkins' career that she has earned all-conference honors.
The final Panther recognized in the CUSA awards was redshirt freshman Fantasia James, who made the CUSA All-Freshman Team after averaging 6.2 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game in conference play. The guard set two career-highs this season, scoring 16 points in a win over Jacksonville State and then following up with 18 points and three made three-pointers in another win over UTEP. Known for her athleticism, James averaged 0.8 blocks per game during CUSA play, ranking seventh in the conference. She posted a career-high three blocks against Jacksonville State and recorded five games with two or more blocks. James was named CUSA Freshman of the Week for the period ending February 16 after averaging 12.5 points per game on 58% shooting, 6.5 rebounds per game, and 1.5 blocks per game.
FULL CUSA POSTSEASON AWARDS
Player of the Year
Molly Kaiser, NM State, Fifth, G
Defensive Player of the Year
Anastasiia Boldyreva, MTSU, Sr., C
Newcomer of the Year
Isnelle Natabou, FIU, Sr., C
Freshman of the Year
Paris Bradley, LA Tech, G
Sixth Player of the Year
Clara Gonzalez Planella, Jax State, Jr., G
Coach of the Year
Rick Insell, MTSU
All-Conference USA First Team
Isnelle Natabou, FIU, Sr., C
Prencis Harden, Kennesaw State, Sr., F
Bella Smuda, Liberty, R-Sr., C
Paris Bradley, LA Tech, Fr., G
Anastasiia Boldyreva, MTSU, Sr., C
Ta'Mia Scott, MTSU, Jr., G
Molly Kaiser, NM State, Fifth, G
Alexis Mead, WKU, Sr., G
All-Conference USA Second Team
Parris Atkins, FIU, Jr., G
Asia Boone, Liberty. So., G
Emma Hess, Liberty, Sr., G
Jalynn Gregory, MTSU, Sr., G
Deborah Ogayemi, Sam Houston, Jr., F
Ivane Tensaie, UTEP, Sr., G
Josie Gilvin, WKU, Jr., G
Destiny Salary, WKU, Fifth, G
CUSA All-Defensive Team
Bella Smuda, Liberty, R-Sr., C
Anastasiia Boldyreva, MTSU, Sr., C
Fanta Kone, Sam Houston, Jr., G
Josie Gilvin, WKU, Jr., G
Alexis Mead, WKU, Sr., G
CUSA All-Freshman Team
Fantasia James, FIU, G
Avery Mills, Liberty, G
Emmy Stout, Liberty, C
Paris Bradley, LA Tech, G
Jordan Marshall, LA Tech, F
UP NEXT
FIU is now locked into the six-seed in the conference tournament and will play three-seed Western Kentucky on Thursday, March 13 at 3 p.m. ET.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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