MIAMI - Women's basketball (10-6, 3-2 CUSA) welcomes Sam Houston (11-5, 4-1 CUSA) for the Panthers' biggest test of the season so far on Thursday, January 22 at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 22 vs Sam Houston

• Time/Site: 7 p.m. / Ocean Bank Convocation Center

• Series History: FIU Leads, 3-1

QUICK FACTS

FIU leads the all-time matchup 3-1, only having played Sam Houston in conference games since the Bearkats joined CUSA.

Coming into the matchup, FIU are first in CUSA in scoring on the season with 76.2 points scored per game, and first in CUSA-play through five games, putting up 72.4 points on CUSA opponents.

Rhema Collins has been a force all season, coming into the matchup with nine  double-doubles, first in CUSA and 14th in the nation. On the season, Collins is first in CUSA with 19.9 points per game, first with 10.7 rebounds per game and first in blocks per game as well with 1.8.

Parris Atkins has been as advertised from her CUSA Preseason All-Conference selection. The guard is third in CUSA, averaging 18.1 points per game, and has been all over the court on defense. With 3.7 steals per game, she is second in CUSA and ninth in the nation in steals. 

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.

Parris Atkins scored a career-high 35 points against Missouri State in the Panthers' first game of conference-play this season. She is only the 24th player in program history to score 35 or more points in a game since 2005, and it is the second most points scored that any player in Conference USA has scored this season.

Atkins also scored 20+ points two games in a row from 1/10-1/15/23. She is the first player to achieve that status since the 2022-23 season. Rhema Collins followed that up with another two 20+ point in a row performances in the Panthers' road trip at New Mexico State and UTEP.

Freshman Grecia Ferrer Leal has been as good as you can get from a first year, ranking in the top-3 in the league in both assists per game and total assists. 

Junior Denika Lightbourne had a career day against Jacksonville State when she put up a staggering 25 points in just 16 minutes played. She surpassed her previous career-high of 21 which she achieved in the first game of the season against South Florida.

CUSA Leaders:

OFFENSIVE

Scoring:

Rhema Collins, 1st - 19.9 ppg

Parris Atkins, 3rd - 18.1 ppg

Rebounding: 

Rhema Collins, 1st - 10.7 rpg

FIELD GOAL %:

Rhema Collins, 3rd - 48.6%

Free-Throw %:

Parris Atkins, 5th - 77.9%

Rhema Collins, 9th - 74.4%

Assists:

Grecia Ferrer, 3rd - 4.1 apg

Total Assists:

Grecia Ferrer, 2nd - 66

DEFENSIVE

Blocks:

Rhema Collins, 1st - 1.8 bpg

Steals:

Parris Atkins, 1st - 3.7 spg

Rhema Collins, 10th - 2.2 bpg

Sophomore Ndate Ndiaye scored her career-high against Florida National with 15 points. She surpassed her previous career-high of 13 points which came in a victory over Seattle in the FIU Thanksgiving Tournament. 

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. 

SCOUTING THE BEARKATS

The Bearkats are coming into the matchup having their best season since they joined CUSA in the 2023-24 season. Sam Houston is currently second in CUSA with a 11-5 overall record and a 4-1 CUSA record, their only loss coming against the conference-leading MTSU Blue Raiders.

An average scoring team at 65.9 points per game, the Bearkat's defense is what stands out, allowing just 55.7 points per game this season. Sam Houston is also first in CUSA in steals per game (14.94), and second in assists per game (17.31).

The Bearkats are led by senior Fanta Kone, who is leading the team in scoring with 12.6 points per game. The guard leads the conference in both assists (4) and steals per game (3.8) as well, making her presence known in 34.1 minutes played per game.

Kone is complimented by forward Deborah Ogayemi and guard Whitney Dunn. Ogayemi is second on the team in scoring with 11.1 points per game, but leads the team in rebounding, bringing down 7.6 a game, tied for 10th in CUSA. Dunn is the final Bearkat to average double figures in scoring, putting up 10.2 points a contest.

The Panthers are looking to build off their three-game winning streak and undefeated conference road trip as they take on one of the best teams in the conference up until this point in the season.

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.