Foul Troubles Cause Panthers to Lose in Season Opener

MIAMI, FL – FIU Women’s Basketball entered the game off a surprising 21-win season while the Jacksonville Dolphins were coming off one of the best seasons in program history. What was supposed to be a close game into the final possessions became a one-sided match. Consistent fouling spelled trouble for the FIU Panthers, who lost 65-50 to the Dolphins in the season opener.

Panthers Enter Foul and Turnover Trouble

The Panthers and Dolphins battled in the first few minutes of the opening frame until FIU broke ice and went on a 6-0 scoring run to make it 18-12. Jacksonville ended the quarter, though, on a 7-0 run. Fantasia James and Grecia Ferrer Leal led the Panthers in scoring that quarter, showing their effectiveness in the paint with layups.

The second quarter was a defensive battle for both squads, with each team turning the ball over at an even rate. During the period, Shorna Preston, James, and Madussou Bamba each made shots from behind the arc, providing momentum. However, the Dolphins responded with an 8-0 scoring run to close out the quarter. They took a 40-37 lead at the break.

Jacksonville started the third quarter strong, outscoring FIU 10-1. This was pretty much the turning point of the game. FIU couldn’t get out of foul trouble all game long. They committed 29 fouls, and the Dolphins took advantage, shooting 78% from the charity stripe on 27 attempts. The Panthers had 27 turnovers, with Ferrer Leal leading the team with eight and James having six.

That's a career-high 19 points for Fantasia! pic.twitter.com/KoCYgUqtcw

— FIU Women’s Basketball (@FIUWBB) November 4, 2026

James finished with 19 points on 60% shooting with three three-pointers and four steals. Breaunna Ward scored 16 points. Ferrer Leal scored 13 points and led FIU with six assists. Preston scored eight points, led the team with seven rebounds, and made three steals.

On Deck

The Panthers host a rematch of last year’s WNIT opening round against Stetson on Tuesday, November 10, at 7 pm. FIU beat the Hatters 76-73 in overtime last season. The Stetson Hatters started the season with a 72-52 win over Flagler. They showed they can produce offense while keeping their opponent from being consistent.

Candela Garcia-Escribano led the Hatters with 21 points on 9-for-12 shooting, with six rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and four steals. Desireck Nieves finished with 18 points, three rebounds, and four steals. Sophie Locatelli scored 16 points, and Favour Anyaele led Stetson with eight rebounds.

About Post Author

Ricardo Urrusuno

He’s a diehard 305 native who roots for his hometown teams in the good, the bad, and the ugly. Recently, he graduated from FIU with an MBA, but now he’s a Lemonhead covering UM basketball. Known to be anywhere and everywhere, you may catch him at a Miami sporting event.

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