Ginevra Gil | Staff Writer
The FIU Panthers opened the Conference USA Championships with a statement win against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.
Now, The Panthers will face Missouri State on March 13 at 8 p.m.
FIU entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed, facing a Jacksonville State team that had advanced after defeating the UTEP Miners in a double-overtime game the day prior.
Despite Jacksonville States’ heavy minutes the previous day, they showed little fatigue. The Panthers opened up with a 5-0 run before the Gamecocks answered with an 11-0 surge to take a 21-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
FIU struggled to find its rhythm early in the second quarter as several close-range opportunities failed to fall. Despite the continuous surges made by the Gamecocks, the Panthers stayed within striking distance and trailed just 35-32 at halftime.
The Panthers seized control after the break.
A three-pointer from Judit Valero gave FIU a 42-40 lead early in the third quarter and sparked a decisive stretch for the Panthers. FIU began dictating the tempo, forcing scoring droughts for Jacksonville State while building a run of their own.
Valero played a key role in the surge, shooting 100 percent from the field and from beyond the arc. She finished the game with 16 points.
By the end of the quarter, FIU had extended their lead to as many as 11 points, outsourcing Jacksonville State 22-8 in the quarter.
FIU carried that momentum into the final quarter, extending their lead to 15 points. Grecia Ferrer Leal added seven of her 13 points in the fourth quarter, while Parris Atkins led the Panthers with 23 points, including nine in the final quarter, to seal the victory.
With the win, the Panthers secured their first victory of the 2026 CUSA Championships and advanced to the next round.
The Missouri State Lady Bears have been one of the Panthers’ toughest opponents this season, defeating FIU twice: 80-69 on Jan. 4 and 69-38 on Feb. 26.
Predictions:
FIU: 68
Missouri State: 65
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