FIU Women’s Basketball Win Thanksgiving Tournament Classic

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MIAMI, FL – Despite a slow 1-3 start to the season, the FIU Panthers entered the Thanksgiving break with the goal of winning their next two. After beating UMBC on Friday, they fought hard and beat Seattle 64-59 today. The FIU Women’s Basketball team earned a new trophy as the Thanksgiving Tournament Classic champions.

Defense Wins Games

The final score reflects the defensive battle that this contest was. On the other hand, if the 1st quarter was any indication of how this game was going, then it was the opposite.

FIU outscored Seattle 25-24 in the 1st quarter of play. Both teams were only able to score 12 points apiece in the 2nd quarter. By then, there wasn’t as much open coverage as there was in the first 10 minutes of the game.

Nah + our ball ✋ pic.twitter.com/DGELTwtozJ

— FIU Women’s Basketball (@FIUWBB) November 30, 2025

Despite the Redhawks not making a basket in the final five minutes of the half, the Panthers came into halftime up by only a point.

The 3rd quarter is when they started to distance themselves from Seattle on the scoreboard. Grecia Ferrer Leal scored seven in the quarter and, Parris Atkins was at her best with eight points and three steals.

FIU entered the 4th quarter with an eight-point lead and used the same momentum on defense to keep the Redhawks in check.

The Panthers did well in protecting the ball, committing a season-low of just 12 turnovers. Seattle, on the other hand, had 22. FIU took advantage, outscoring the Redhawks 23-10 in points off turnovers. Some of those opportunities turned into second-chance points, which FIU won 13-6.

The most impactful plays on defense were the steals, which the Panthers won decisively 15-5. The ability to read the Seattle defense was key in getting possession of the ball back.

100 career steals ✅
Career-high steals in a game ✅
Points off turnovers ✅

This steal had a lot going on 😅 pic.twitter.com/4SlSIzCMOI

— FIU Women’s Basketball (@FIUWBB) November 30, 2025

Multiple Players Score Double Figures

Atkins had an impactful performance. The senior led the team with 20 points, making 33% of shots from behind the arc. Parris Atkins grabbed three rebounds and had a career-high of seven steals. Her last steal of the game was the 100th D1 steal of her collegiate career.

Rhema Collins scored 15 points, grabbed six rebounds, blocked a pair of shots, and stole the ball twice. The junior has now scored in double digits for the fifth consecutive game.

The swipe to the trey 👌

Play of the Game presented by Florida City Gas pic.twitter.com/4VzcLYmL9Y

— FIU Women’s Basketball (@FIUWBB) November 30, 2025

Ndate Ndiaye scored a career-high 13 points, while also having seven rebounds and two steals.

The freshman Ferrer finished with 10 points for the second consecutive game while also grabbing five rebounds, tallying six assists, and making two steals.

What’s Next?

FIU will welcome the Georgia State Panthers on Friday to play their first night game of the season at 7 PM. It will also be VICE night at the arena.

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