TAMPA, Fla. — FIU's women's basketball program was defeated 81-56 by South Florida in its 2025-26 season opener on Monday night.
Denika Lightbourne poured in 21 points in her first game as a Panther (0-1), but USF (1-0) scored 20-plus points in each of its first three quarters to claim the 25-point victory. Ndate Ndiaye went 3-for-5 from three and finished with 12 points. Claudia Marina rounded out FIU's double-digit scorers with 11 points, making two threes.
Grecia Ferrer Leal played 38 minutes for the Panthers and produced a solid stat line with nine points, five assists and three rebounds.