FIU stuns Stetson with improbable comeback in WNIT thriller
Stetson was eliminated from the WNIT by FIU on March 20. The Panthers rallied in the final seconds to send the game to overtime.
Florida International trailed Stetson 63-58 with 12 seconds left in regulation before storming back and overtaking the Hatters 76-73 in overtime to advance to the second round of the WNIT on March 20. The Panthers cut their deficit to three on a Rhema Collins tip-in with four seconds remaining. After a Stetson timeout, Collins stole the ball on the Hatters' ensuing inbounds play and made a 30-foot 3-pointer as time expired to send the game to overtime knotted at 63.
FIU didn't squander its chance to win after an improbable last-second rally. Stetson, who also led 70-65 after two minutes of overtime, allowed the Panthers to tie it at 70 with 1:58 remaining. FIU's Grecia Ferrer Leal delivered the dagger on a layup with 26 seconds left to break a 73-73 tie.
The Hatters went for the win on a Mary McMillan 3-point jumper, but her attempt missed, and Collins came down with the rebound with one second left. Collins made one last free throw to put a stamp on the win for the Panthers. Collins led FIU with 24 points and 10 rebounds on 9-of-16 shooting.
The Panthers had four players (Collins, Ferrer Leal, Parris Atkins and Judit Valero) score in double figures. McMillan finished with a game-high 25 points, and Hatters forward Rose Caso also dropped 19. An extra period was fitting for a game that was tied after the first quarter and still even at halftime before Stetson led by one point after the third.