WESTCHESTER, Fla. (Interstat) — Parris Atkins scored 25 points to lead Florida International to a 66-45 victory over Liberty in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Ocean Bank Convocation Center. The Golden Panthers (17-9, Conference USA) used a dominant first quarter, outscoring the Lady Flames 24-4, to establish a lead they would not relinquish. Liberty (14-12) cut the deficit to 30-17 by halftime but could not sustain a comeback. Atkins added five assists in 29 minutes for Florida International. Rhema Collins contributed 16 points. Emmy Stout led Liberty with 12 points. Florida International swept the regular-season series, having also won 74-61 on Jan. 30.

WESTCHESTER, Fla. (Interstat) — A dominant first-quarter blitz by Florida International proved insurmountable for Liberty as the Golden Panthers cruised to a 66-45 victory in a Conference USA women’s basketball game Saturday at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. The game was effectively decided in the opening 10 minutes, as Florida International raced out to a 24-4 lead. The Golden Panthers’ defense was stifling, forcing eight Liberty turnovers in the first quarter while holding the Lady Flames to just 2-of-15 shooting from the field. Liberty missed its first nine field goal attempts and did not score until a JaKayla Thompson layup with 45 seconds remaining in the period. Parris Atkins, the dynamic guard from Little Rock, Arkansas, was the catalyst for Florida International. She scored seven points in the first quarter, part of a game-high 25-point performance that included five assists. Her backcourt partner, Grecia Ferrer Leal of Badalona, Spain, orchestrated the offense with three assists in the opening frame, setting the tone for a game where Florida International assisted on 12 of its 21 made field goals. Liberty, which entered the game with a 60.4% win probability according to National Statistical’s ELO system, showed resilience after the disastrous start. The Lady Flames outscored Florida International 13-6 in the second quarter, using a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to 30-17 at halftime. Emmy Stout, a 6-foot-3 forward from San Diego, provided an interior presence for Liberty, finishing with 12 points. The most important stretch of the game came early in the third quarter. After Liberty’s Lynn Peters made a free throw to pull her team within 12 points, Florida International responded with decisive force. The Golden Panthers embarked on a 13-2 run over the next four minutes, fueled by Atkins’ playmaking and the inside scoring of Rhema Collins. The 6-foot-2 center from Nassau, Bahamas, scored six points during the surge and finished with 16 points, effectively extinguishing Liberty’s comeback hopes and pushing the lead back to 43-22. Florida International maintained control throughout the second half, never allowing the lead to dip below 17 points. The Golden Panthers’ balanced attack was complemented by Riley Burd of Perth, Australia, who added nine points, including three 3-pointers. Liberty struggled offensively all afternoon, shooting just 29.1% from the field and a frigid 11.8% from 3-point range. Thompson finished with nine points for the Lady Flames, while Claudia Acin of Girona, Spain, dished out five assists. The Lady Flames’ offensive rating of 65.5 points per 100 possessions underscored their difficulties against an active Florida International defense that generated 12 steals. The victory improved Florida International’s season record to 17-9 overall and completed a regular-season sweep of Liberty, having also won 74-61 in Lynchburg on Jan. 30. The Golden Panthers have now won three of their last four games. Liberty fell to 14-12 with the loss, snapping a two-game winning streak. Florida International showcased efficient offense to complement its defensive intensity, posting an offensive rating of 95.7. The Golden Panthers shot 42% from the field, 41.2% from beyond the arc, and 81% from the free-throw line. Both teams scored 24 points in the paint and were even with nine offensive rebounds apiece, but Florida International’s ability to convert Liberty’s 16 turnovers into 20 points was a critical difference. The announced attendance was 214 at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. Liberty next hosts Middle Tennessee on Thursday. Florida International travels to face Missouri State, also on Thursday.

Liberty Seeks Revenge Against Florida International in Conference USA Rematch WESTCHESTER, Fla. (Interstat) — The Liberty Lady Flames look to avenge a recent loss and improve their postseason positioning when they visit the Florida International Golden Panthers in a Conference USA women’s basketball matchup Saturday. The game tips off at 2 p.m. EST at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. Florida International (16-9, 8-4 CUSA) won the first meeting this season, 74-61, at Liberty on Jan. 30. The Golden Panthers have won three of their last four, most recently a 62-36 rout of Delaware on Thursday. Parris Atkins led that effort with 17 points and 10 rebounds, continuing a strong season. In the January win over Liberty, Atkins scored 17 points and dished five assists. Liberty (13-11, 6-6) has won two straight, including a 67-42 victory over New Mexico State on Feb. 14. The Lady Flames are led by forward Ify Nwaobi, who posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in that win. However, Nwaobi was limited to just four points in 21 minutes in the first game against Florida International’s defense. The Golden Panthers hold a two-game lead over Liberty in the conference standings. A win would solidify their hold on a top-four seed for the upcoming conference tournament, while the Lady Flames aim to even the season series and climb back to .500 in league play. Florida International has been strong at home, boasting a 10-3 record at the Convocation Center this season. Liberty is 4-7 in road games. Following this game, Liberty hosts Middle Tennessee on Feb. 26. Florida International travels to face Missouri State on the same date.