Dec. 29, 2003

Box Score

Miami, FL - - The University of Dayton women's basketball team fell to the host Florida International Golden Panthers, 68-44, in the championship of the FIU Sun & Fun Classic Wednesday night at Phamed Arena. The Flyers were paced by senior guard Emily Williams with 12 points. Williams and Katie Butler were named to the All-Tournament team.

Tournament MVP Lasma Jekabsone finished with 12 points for FIU while Faeza Bouderra led the Panthers with 20 points, on just two field goals. She was 15 of 18 from the free-throw line.

Butler added seven points for the Flyers and finished with 28 points in the two games as the Flyers finished second in the Sun & Fun Classic.

The first half opened in a defensive lockdown, as the Flyers and Panthers scored one combined point in the first five minutes of play, a free-throw by FIU's Faeza Bouderra. FIU extended the lead to 7-0 before Katie Butler knocked down a three to put UD on the board.

Butler scored UD's first seven points and a floater in the lane by Ashley Armstrong tied the game at 9-9. After Emily Williams gave UD a 11-10 lead, FIU's Eva Makala laid the ball in for a 12-11 lead with 7:05 to go in the first half and FIU closed the first half with a 15-2 run to take a 27-13 lead into the half

The difference in the game was foul trouble as UD was called for 14 fouls in the first 20 minutes, sending FIU to the line for 18 foul shots. Dayton shot two free throws in the first half as a result of five fouls. The Flyers held FIU to 20.7 percent shooting in the first half, but shot only 19.4 percent themselves.

In the second half, UD opened with a three from Williams before Makala answered with five points as FIU stretched the lead to 16, 37-21 with 15:06 to go. FIU led by as many as 20 before an and-one from Brittany Holterman brought UD within 15.

But the Panthers pulled away again, closing out the Flyers to win the Sun & Fun Classic an on their home floor.

Dayton was out-rebounded for the second time all season, 52-35.

The Flyers advanced to the championship with a 63-51 win over Brown University on Tuesday, while FIU took out Stony Brook, 78-44. Stony Brook defeated Brown for third place in the tournament.

Dayton returns home to open Atlantic 10 play on January 3 against Xavier at UD Arena.

ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM Myleena Ford, Stony Brook Sara Hayes, Brown Katie Butler, Dayton Emily Williams, Dayton LaQuetta Ferguson, Florida International Lasma Jekabsone, Florida International