Parris Atkins Commands With 18 Points, Panthers Drop Thriller To ACU

MIAMI, FL – FIU women’s basketball returned to The Bank after their record-breaking performance against Florida National. Tonight, they were contested against the Abilene-Christian Wildcats who won a heartbreaker by a score of 76-73.

TURNOVER TROUBLES

The first half consisted of solid production from Parris Atkins with 10 total points. It was a turnover galore as both teams combined with 29 total – ACU with 16 and FIU with 13.

FIU put up their first lead of the game at 8:24 in the second quarter with a three-pointer from Atkins. Abilene, however, heated things up right after with the help of Emma Troxell, who had twelve points in the half and gave ACU the lead, wrapping up the half with a 37-30 lead.

NOT THE RIGHT ENDING

It was a very interesting turn of events from the beginning to the 2nd half of the contest as both teams kept it neck and neck the rest of the way. The final quarter proved to be a thriller with the Panthers up 66-69.

That was, until Abilene’s Breanna Davis scored a decisive game-tying three-pointer, followed by a Natalia Chavez three-pointer which gave ACU a 72-69 lead. In turn, that wrapped it up with a narrow victory for the Wildcats.

Atkins and Tanajah Hayes were a dynamic due with 18 and 17 points, respectively. However, FIU fell flat from beyond the arc, going 3-19. They didn’t fare much better at the free throw line, going 24-36.

With the loss, the Panthers fall to 1-1 to begin the season. They’ll look to bounce back on Wednesday, November 13th at 7pm against the Jacksonville Dolphins.