Jan. 30, 2002
Miami, Fla. - In a rematch that mirrored the teams' first meeting, Florida International used a late second-half run and took advantage of its trips to the free-throw line, defeating the Western Kentucky women's basketball team 72-58 Wednesday night.
Western (13-7, 7-2 SBC East) jumped out quickly on FIU (17-5, 8-1 SBC East ) taking an 8-1 lead just 2:57 into the game, thanks mostly to two three pointers by Camryn Whitaker (So., Cynthinana, Ky.). However, the Golden Panthers fought back to take their first lead of the game at 12-11 on a layup by Anita Heller with 12:10 to play. Although FIU held onto the advantage, WKU stayed within three points until a 11-3 run by FIU late in the half gave it a 31-21 lead with 44 seconds remaining. Western got back-to-back jumpers in the paint from Tiffiany Diggins (Jr., Des Moines, Wash.) and Jamie Truitt (So., Owensboro, Ky.) at the buzzer to go into the locker room down by just six, 31-25.
Truitt led the Lady Toppers with eight points off the bench at halftime. Gergana Slavtcheva paced FIU with 12 points.
Western came out strong again in the second half, scoring the first four points to get within two (31-29) on a layup by Whitaker. However, Florida International stayed in the lead and built it back to six. WKU used a 5-0 run to again get within two with 10:59 to play, and was able to pull within 50-49 on two free throws by Natalie Powers (Sr., Owensboro, Ky.) with 9:17 on the clock. However, FIU answered with a three by Gergana Slavtcheva. FIU was able to extend on the lead and build it to double figures, going up by 12 when a Mandy Shafer three made it 65-53 with 5:03 remaining. The Lady Toppers would get no closer as FIU got up by as much as 17 with 26 seconds remaining, but a three by Leslie Logsdon (So., Munfordville, Ky.) ended the scoring as FIU took the 14-point win.
Whitaker led Western with 14 points, while also pulling down six re/bounds. Diggins also finished in double figures with 10 for WKU. FIU put five players in double figures, led by Slavtcheva's 15 points. Comisha Cotton finished the game with a double-double, scoring 10 points and pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds.
WKU will return home to open a three-game homestand against New Orleans on Monday (Feb. 4) at 7 p.m. (CST).
-- WKU --
