Ruben Palacios/staff writer
Junior Marita Davydova led the FIU women’s basketball team to a 72-63 victory against North Texas behind a career-high 19 points and 11 rebounds on Feb.9. FIU improved to 15-9 (9-6 SBC) while NT falls to 9-15 (8-7 SBC).
It was a battle early on in the contest as both teams exchanged leads for much of the first half. A three-pointer late in the first half propelled the Panthers to take a 33-32 lead into the half.
In the second half, North Texas would take the lead behind the hot shooting of Loryn Goodwin, who scored 26 points on 9 of 16 shooting from the field and 7 of 10 shooting behind the three-point line. Their lead was short lived though, as the Panthers would fight back and lead by as many as 10 in the second half.
The Panthers had three players in double-figure scoring. Davydova with 19 points, junior Jerica Coley scored 26 points and senior Diamond Ashmore netted 12 points for her second consecutive game in double-figure scoring.
Coley, who entered the game as the nation’s leading scorer at 25.4 ppg, kept up the pace with her 26 points. The All-American has now scored in double-figures in 22 consecutive games and in 80 of 90 career games.
The Panthers shot 47 percent from the field while allowing NT to shoot 46 percent. FIU also enforced their size as they out-rebounded NT 39-27. Turnovers proved to be the difference in the contest as FIU turned 17 NT turnovers into 23 points.
FIU returns to the hardwood on Thursday, Feb. 14, when they travel to Troy, Ala., for a Sun-Belt Conference matchup against the Troy Trojans
