By Cristhian Plasencia/Asst. Sports Director
Snapping a six-game losing streak, the FIU women’s basketball team finished the 2017 year with a season-high, 80-70, win over Vermont on Saturday at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
Sophomore guard Alexis Gordon led the team with a career-high 40 points, as she converted nine three-pointers, the most in school history.
“I was shooting and my shots were going in,” said Gordon. “I kept telling myself don’t stop and in the second half for the first couple of minutes, I was shying back a little bit.”
Gordon shot 10 of 14 from the field and finished with a staggering 75% (9-12) from beyond the arc. Outside of her stellar offensive performance, she showed her toughness on the defensive end. She also managed to grab four defensive rebounds along with a single block and a steal.
2017 November 19 – FIU’s Alexis Gordon (21)
Florida International University defeated Air Force, 70-69, at Ocean Bank Convocation Center, Miami, Florida. (Photo by: Alex J. Hernandez / photobokeh.com)
“Alexis is back into her groove now, she’s feeling comfortable,” said Coach Tiara Malcom. “We had a conversation, Alexis stayed after practice every day since, and that paid off.”
The Panthers led by 14 points with 7:41 in the fourth quarter, with a fast break started by freshman forward Callie Cavanaugh’s rebounds finished by a triple from Gordon.
In the later stretch of the fourth, 3:42 left on the clock, Vermont’s Hanna Crymble completed a three-point play as she drove to the basket and got fouled by Cavanaugh. Vermont cut the lead to three points, 69-66 FIU.
As the quarter progressed, once again Vermont cut the deficit to three points. Crymble got to the line and made a pair of free-throws with 2:45 left, but Vermont struggled to stop the bleeding from FIU’s backcourt players efficient shooting from the perimeter.
Gordon nailed a three pointer the following possession and ended up scoring FIU’s last nine points. She made two late triples and got fouled beyond the arc with 23 seconds left, made all three free throws to ice the game.
“Knowing that I’m comfortable defensively, it carried over into me playing good offensively,” said Gordon. “But at the start of the game my shots were going in, from that point my teammates were looking for me.”
The Panthers finished the game shooting a proficient 65% (13-20) from three-point territory. Lauryn Snipes dropped two three pointers, as she concluded the night with 15 points and five defensive rebounds.
Vermont managed to outscore FIU in the first quarter 23-20, however Coach Malcom kept telling her players to contest shots and execute on the other end.
“From the very beginning, they set the tone and made some shots early, but my players looked locked into the game (defending),” said Coach Malcom.
FIU continued their season struggle to get offensive boards leading to second point chances, but had eight fast-break points. Vermont made 12 trips to the free-throw line, while FIU got to the line 27 times, shooting 85 percent. Gordon made all of her 11 attempted free throws.
“Every time we were shooting a free throw I was calling someone over and I was telling them: look to penetrate the seam in the zone,” said Coach Malcom.
The FIU women’s will start the 2018-year hosting the UTEP Miners on Friday at 7 p.m. It will open the threshold of their conference USA opponents.
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