Miami, Fla. - Fanni Hutlassa paced three players in double-digit
scoring figures to lead FIU to a 69-56 win over UAlbany in the first game of
the Sun & Fun Classic, hosted by the Panthers at US Century Bank Arena on Friday
evening. Hutlassa went 8-of-14 from the floor to score a game-high 22 points
for FIU.
FIU opened up the game with a 10-0 run, holding UAlbany Hutlassa
sunk back-to-back baskets to give FIU a 10-point advantage. The Great Danes got
their first basket of the contest at 14:19, as Tabitha Makopondo grabbed an
offensive rebound and got the put-back. UAlbany cut the deficit in half on a
free-throw by Adrienne Jones and a basket in the paint by Megan Craig, but
Hutlassa nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the arc to end the Great Dane rally
and pull FIU ahead, 13-5, with 11:20 left to play. UAlbany then went on an 8-2
run to pull within 15-13, but Hutlassa scored her 11th straight
point for the Panthers to keep FIU on top by four.
Lindsey Lowrie nailed a 3-pointer before Cassandra
Callaway hit a jumper in the lane with just over seven minutes to play to give
UAlbany its first lead of the game. The Panthers took a timeout and regrouped,
as Hutlassa drew a foul and made both free throws to cut the lead to 19-18.
Julie Forster answered at the opposite end, hitting both ends of a 1-and-1 to
keep the Great Danes on top by two. A basket by Mansare gave FIU back a three-point
advantage, and the teams exchanged baskets for the remainder of the half,
sending the teams to the locker rooms with the Panthers ahead, 31-28.
FIU came out of the locker room firing, starting the second
half much like the first, going on a 6-0 run to kick off play. The Panthers got
consecutive baskets from Jerica Coley in the stretch. Forster ended the run
with a bucket in the lane, and Callaway recorded a steal and a jumper from the
free throw line to pull the Great Danes back within 37-32. However, FIU
continued to get contributions from Mansare and Hutlassa to embark on an 8-0
run and pull ahead, 46-32. A 3-pointer by Callaway ended the run, and the
senior guard converted a fast-break layup to cut the advantage back to single
digits with 12:50 left to play.
FIU then put up a 9-0 run to take a 53-37 lead, paced by
Hutlassa who nailed a trey, and Coley, who drained two free throws. The
Panthers continued to build their advantage, but UAlbany continued to battle,
keeping the score within reach. Coley, who had just four points in the first
half, netted three free throws and a jumper to put FIU ahead, 62-43, but Sarah
Royals hit a runner in the lane and sank the ensuing foul shot with 4:12 left
to play, attempting to ignite the Great Dane offense.
Royals, along with Cyndra Couch, continued to push the
Great Danes, combining for 11 of UAlbany's final 13 points of the game.
However, strong shooting by the Panthers made the deficit too much for the
Great Danes to overcome, as FIU posted a 55.1 shooting percentage from the
floor in the game.
Mansare added 19 points for FIU (7-5), while Coley was
the third player in double-digit scoring for the Panthers with 15 points. FIU
out-rebounded the Great Danes, 36-32, led by Mansare's eight boards.
UAlbany (6-6) was led by Callaway with 11 points, while Couch
added nine. Lowrie and Royals also finished with eight points for the Great
Danes, who shot 36.2-percent from the field.
