Women’s basketball holds off FAU in SBC home opener

LaQuetta Ferguson posted her third double-double of the season to lead FIU past FAU, 53-44, in Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball action on Jan. 5 at the Pharmed Arena at University Park.

Ferguson scored a game-high 16 points to go along with 10 boards as the Golden Panthers (5-9, 1-2 SBC) never trailed in the game. Jasmine Jenkins had a game-high 15 rebounds and nine points while Iva Ciglar scored eight points and dished out a game-high seven assists.

To read more about the FIU vs. FAU game, click here.

Men’s basketball trips FAU in SBC home opener

Kenneth "Redd" White came off the bench to score a game-high 17 points as FIU snapped a six-game losing streak with a 69-58 Sun Belt Conference victory over FAU on Jan. 5 at the Pharmed Arena at University Park.

Nikola Gacesa added 13 points and eight rebounds for FIU (4-9, 1-2 SBC) and Alex Galindo had 12 points in the victory.

“We played a team tonight that was at our level and our kids responded,” said Head Coach Sergio Rouco. “We were an unselfish team out on the floor and our chemistry showed. I’m very happy for our kids. They’ve taken a lot of beatings lately against some very good teams. But we’ve stuck together and got a very good win.”

To read more about the FIU vs. FAU game, click here.

Swimming team wraps up FIU Invitational

FIU continued its own New Year’s tradition with the Fifth Annual FIU Invitational on Jan. 5 at the Miami Shores Aquatics Center, where the Golden Panthers played host to men’s and women’s teams from American, Iowa, Lake Forest College and Oakland in a meet that consisted entirely of relays.

The small but strong women’s field was led by Iowa’s 176 points, followed by Oakland (98), FIU (40) and American (38).

Iowa also won on the men’s side with 172 points, ahead of Oakland (102), American (52) and Lake Forest (22).

“This was really a good chance for us to get back in the pool and get into the swing of things,” said Head Coach Noemi Zaharia. “This meet is usually fun and a good way to ease back into the season.”

FIU took fourth in the 200-yard breaststroke relay behind freshman Erin Pavlick, Lindsey Juman, Katelynn Stevens and Sara Giovannoni.

The 200 backstroke relay of JoJo Pomerantz, Nicola MacKenzie, Adriana Omans and Stevens also placed fourth while the 200 free relay of MacKenzie, Omans, Jeffers and Giovannoni took fifth.