Ginevra Gil | Staff Writer
After securing two statement road victories, the Panthers clinched No. 2 seed in the Conference USA standings.
FIU will face No.7 Jacksonville State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Conference USA Championships on Tuesday, March 10 at 3 P.M.
The Panthers faced Jacksonville State once previously this season on Jan. 8, in which the Gamecocks escaped with a 70-67 win over the Panthers.
On the road to clinching the second seed, FIU first faced the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on March 5.
Evenly matched, both teams brought in high intensity and efficiency.
That energy quickly turned into momentum swings. With five minutes remaining in the first quarter, Rhema Collins knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to give FIU a one-point lead. Middle Tennessee answered with a three of their own, setting the tone for a back-and-forth battle.
The Blue Raiders finished the first quarter ahead by four and carried that momentum into the second, extending their lead to seven.
FIU gradually chipped away at the deficit before taking the lead late in the quarter. Fantasia James connected from beyond the arc to put the Panthers ahead by two, sending FIU into halftime with a 33-30 lead.
After the break, the Panthers briefly extended its advantage, but Middle Tennessee responded with a run of its own to regain control. The Blue Raiders built another lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Panthers slowly worked their way back into the game and trailed by just two points with 50 seconds remaining. With 30 seconds left, Judith Valero drove to the basket for a layup to tie the game at 68 and force overtime. Valero finished with 19 points and 3 rebounds (a career high).
FIU faced an additional challenge in overtime after Collins and Parris Atkins fouled out. Collins finished with 22 points and 4 rebounds, while Atkins added 9 points and 2 rebounds.
Free throws became crucial in the extra period, but neither team was able to create separation. After five minutes, the game remained tied.
In the second overtime, the game opened up, and Middle Tennessee built a three-point lead.
What remained crucial for both sides was free throws, however even with much effort neither side could build a substantial lead. After five minutes, the teams were still leveled out.
James drilled another three-pointer before adding a layup moments later to give the Panthers a one-point advantage with under two minutes remaining.
Neither team scored from the field in the final moments. Riley Burd delivered a crucial steal and later converted one of two free throws to seal FIU’s 80-78 double-overtime victory and complete the season sweep.
FIU faced the Western Kentucky Lady Toppers in its final regular season game of the 2025-26 season.
Riding the momentum from its previous win, the Panthers jumped out to an early lead. Western Kentucky responded however, and trimmed the deficit to take a one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
FIU held the upper hand in the second quarter. Judit Valero knocked down two consecutive three-pointers to help the Panthers build an 11-point advantage.
Valero finished the game with 15 points and 3 rebounds.
The Panthers outscored the Lady Toppers 19-11 in the quarter to take a 32-25 lead into halftime.
Despite FIU controlling much of the game, Western Kentucky made a late push. A three-pointer followed by a drive to the basket cut the Panthers’ lead to four before the Lady Toppers continued to chip away, reducing the margin to a one-possession game.
The Panthers’ defense ultimately held firm down the stretch, keeping Western Kentucky scoreless in the final minutes to secure a 64-60 victory.
Alongside Valero, Atkins led the Panthers with 22 points and 7 rebounds.
Rhema Collins added 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Adama Badjie Coly contributed 3 points and 11 rebounds.
With the Panthers securing the No. 2 seed, FIU enters the CUSA Championships with momentum and determination, carrying the hard-learned lessons marked by resilience and grit into championship pursuit.
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