Panthers WBB Outlast Louisiana Tech

Jon Gonzalez | PantherNOW

For the Panthers’ short return to Ocean Bank Convocation Center, they played a nail-biter and ultimately outlasted the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in their game on Thursday, Jan. 9.

Every win counts as the Panthers try to turn around their poor early-season start and put their win-loss record back in the positive.

In the first few minutes of the opening period, the Panthers gave up a few quick baskets, allowing the Bulldogs to take an early lead—something they’ve struggled with throughout the season.

Aaliyah Pitts made her first of two free throws to get FIU on the board, and once they broke through, the Panthers began to rack up points.

Much of the scoring came from the paint, as Bineta Diatta and Paris Atkins fought their way through multiple defenders to make it to the basket and score.

Diatta led FIU in scoring for the first period and showcased her and the team’s knack for making difficult layups look effortless.

Her presence eased the burden on Isnelle Natabou, who was double-teamed for much of her time on offense yet still managed to grab a few key rebounds from the Bulldogs.

Although the Panthers didn’t retake the lead by the end of the first period, they showed glimpses of what was to come as they thoroughly dominated the second period.

The crowd had a bit of fun when the basketball got lodged between the rim and the backboard, and the excitement continued as the Panthers put on a show.

A three-pointer from Angena Belloso gave the Panthers the lead, and Lucia Fleta Robles followed with one of her own as the Ocean Bank crowd roared in excitement.

To say the Bulldogs’ offense struggled would be an understatement—they were stifled by Panther defenders who navigated the court with remarkable synchronicity.

With Natabou acting as a one-woman fortress in the middle on both ends of the court, the rest of the Panthers capitalized on their matchups, forcing bad passes that turned into easy scores for FIU.

By halftime, the Panthers led 40–29.

The third period continued FIU’s scoring trend, although Louisiana Tech began to find their rhythm and hinted at a potential comeback.

Despite their efforts, the Bulldogs couldn’t cut FIU’s lead below nine points. Whenever they managed a scoring run, the Panthers answered with baskets of their own to maintain their cushion.

Much of the credit goes to Atkins, who donned her metaphorical superhero cape, as she has all season, and used her finesse to drive to the rim and keep FIU’s offense rolling.

Atkins’ success was bolstered by Natabou and Pitts, who played the entire third period and forced the Bulldogs to divide their attention.

Their chemistry also worked wonders for FIU’s interior defense, as the Bulldogs were consistently forced to settle for perimeter shots rather than risk being outmuscled for rebounds inside.

Entering the fourth period, the Panthers only needed to maintain their steady scoring pace to secure a much-needed win.

It didn’t quite play out that way, but they still came away victorious.

What ultimately sealed the game in the Panthers’ favor was the Bulldogs’ visible exhaustion. Several Louisiana Tech players were seen lingering at half-court after turnovers, clearly trying to catch their breath.

The Panthers deserve commendation for their conditioning.

With Robles and Natabou both logging nearly 40 minutes and three other players reaching 30 minutes or close to it, maintaining their intensity throughout the game was nothing short of impressive.

On the flip side, a question arises: why haven’t more underclassmen been given opportunities outside of Judit Valero Rodriguez and Fantasia James?

With the Panthers’ win-loss record still in the negative, it’s understandable that Coach Burks-Wiley might be hesitant to take risks with less-developed players. However, most of her starters this season are seniors or upperclassmen.

When they eventually move on, the team will be left in the hands of players who currently lack the necessary experience to develop their games and prepare for starting roles.

Regardless, the Panthers now look ahead to their next game at Ocean Bank against the Sam Houston Bearkats for their second in-conference home game of the season.

Sam Houston is on a three-game losing streak to start the new year and has yet to win a game against a fellow CUSA member this season.

The Panthers aim to extend the Bearkats’ streak to four games as they sit just two spots behind Sam Houston in the standings. A win could allow FIU to overtake both Sam Houston and New Mexico State, whom they face in Las Cruces on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

This matchup will be a battle on the glass, as FIU enters the game as the No. 1 Rebounding Defense in CUSA, while Sam Houston boasts the No. 1 Rebounding Offense.

With FIU’s momentum showing no signs of slowing down, expect another Panther victory as they continue their climb back to the upper echelon of CUSA.

Follow Jon Gonzalez on Instagram: gonzalez.lonsdale

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