Middle Tennessee concludes Florida road swing Saturday

MIAMI - The Middle Tennessee women's basketball team will wrap up its extended road trip to south Florida when it faces FIU at 3:30 p.m. Central Saturday at the U.S. Century Bank Arena in Miami. The game will be the first of a doubleheader with the Panthers, as the men's teams are slated to play afterwards at 6 p.m. Central.

The Blue Raiders bring a 17-4 overall and 8-0 Sun Belt record into the match up after beginning the road swing with an 85-53 victory Wednesday night at Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, Fla. Six players reached double figures, while freshman Ebony Rowe (19 pts., 10 rebs.) and sophomore Icelyn Elie (14 pts., 12 rebs.) registered the 11th and second double-doubles of their respective careers.

Rowe continues to average a double-double for the season, posting 17.0 points and 10.2 rebounds per outing thus far. Senior Anne Marie Lanning (12.1 ppg) and Elie (10.1 ppg) also are in double-figure scoring, while Elie is next with 5.2 rebounds per contest.

FIU is 8-14 overall and 3-5 in the conference after it knocked off Western Kentucky, 69-54, Wednesday night in Miami. The Panthers are led by a freshman, Jerica Coley, who pours in 15.9 ppg. She grabs a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game.

Two other members of head coach Cindy Russo's squad average double figures, including Rakia Rodgers and Michelle Gonzalez with 13.7 and 10.4 ppg, respectively.

Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series, 13-7, and has won the last four meetings. Head coach Rick Insell is 8-2 against the Panthers in his career.

Dick Palmer will have all the action on the Blue Raider Network, WGNS (100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, 1450 AM), WMOT (89.5 FM) and WBRY (96.7 FM, 1540 AM).

Fans are also reminded of Sun Belt Tournament tickets now on-sale through the Middle Tennessee ticket office. Ticket booklets are $83 and can be purchased by stopping by the ticket office at Gate 1A of Floyd Stadium or calling 1-888-YES-MTSU for the league event, held March 5-8 in Hot Springs, Ark.

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