LAS CRUCES, NM – Rhema Collins and Parris Atkins combine for 50 points as women's basketball (9-6, 2-2 CUSA) marched into Pan American Center and came out with a 83-74 victory over New Mexico State (6-11, 2-3 CUSA).
The Panthers played hot from the jump and kept up the pace all contest, scoring 25 points in the first quarter, never relinquishing the lead after taking a 12-11 advantage with 3:22 in the first quarter. FIU went into the second quarter with a 25-15 lead.
New Mexico State fought back, cutting the FIU lead to four by the end of the first half, 35-31.
Out of the break, the CUSA-leading Panther offense took flight, putting up 33 points in the penultimate frame, with senior Parris Atkins accounting for 12. The guard ended the game with her seventh 20-point game of the season, going for 21 points and piling on six rebounds and four steals.
FIU went into the final quarter with a 68-56 lead.
Despite the Aggies cutting the FIU lead to as little as four in the fourth quarter, the Panthers stood strong, ending the game 13-8 run and closing out their second victory of CUSA-play.
"I'm really proud of the resilience our kids showed tonight," Head Coach Jesyka Burks-Wiley commented after the game. "Every road game is a battle in CUSA and our kids stepped up to the challenge. Looking forward to the toughness and grit this game pulled out of us bearing fruit in our next games."
Junior Rhema Collins led the way for FIU, ending with a game-high 29 points on 8-12 shooting, also knocking down 13 free-throws. The 6'2 guard ended with her eighth double-double of the season, bringing down 10 rebounds, while adding on three assists, two blocks and two steals.
It was the first time FIU had two 20-point scorers in a game since last season when Parris Atkins and Angena Belloso both accounted for 23 points in a victory over Western Kentucky.
Judit Valero was the final Panther to manage double-figures in scoring, ending with 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
FIU benefited off Aggie mistakes, beating New Mexico State in points off turnovers (30-16) and second-chance points (12-8).
This was the first time the Panthers beat the Aggies since the 2023-24 season, breaking a four-game losing streak against New Mexico State.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will stay out west and matchup against University of Texas at El - Paso on Saturday, January 17 at 4 p.m. ET.
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