Women's Basketball Falls To FIU, 81-70
Dec. 14, 2002
CORAL GABLES, Fla.-The Miami women’s basketball team fell to cross-town rival Florida International, 81-70, Saturday night at Golden Panther Arena on the FIU campus.
Freshman Tamara James (Dania, Fla.) led the Hurricanes (3-3) with a game-high 24 points and eight rebounds.
Junior Shaquana Wilkins (Plymouth, Fla.), who made her first start of the season, added 16 points.
This was the 48th meeting between the two teams; Miami continues to lead the all-time series 29-19 despite the loss. The Hurricanes have fallen to the Golden Panthers (5-2) in the last three meetings.
FIU kept a narrow lead most of the game and clung to a two-point advantage with 1:59 remaining before Silvia Mesa converted a three-point play that put FIU ahead, 71-66.
UM went on to miss five of its last six field-goal attempts while FIU connected on 7-of-10 free throws in the final 46 seconds to secure the victory.
The UM press forced 27 turnovers, the most for FIU this season. However, FIU was more aggressive on the boards, outrebounding the Hurricanes, 51-28.
Miami returns home to face Florida Atlantic on Monday at 7 p.m.
