MIAMI, Fla. — Jacksonville University’s women’s basketball team opened its season with a 75-64 win at FIU on Tuesday night in Miami, a result that also gave head coach Special Jennings the 50th victory of her JU tenure.
Freshman Samirah Mamoudou carried the Dolphins (1-0) in her first college game, scoring 21 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. She had 11 points in the opening quarter alone on 4-of-7 shooting. Fellow freshman J’Niya Weaver added 18 points and went 8-for-8 at the free throw line.
The two freshmen combined for 30 of the team’s first-half points, and Mamoudou’s debut made it two straight seasons that a JU newcomer has scored 20 or more in her first college game, following Tatum Brown last year.
The game was tight early. Jacksonville led 24-21 after one quarter and 40-37 at halftime as the teams traded baskets. The Dolphins pulled away in the third, outscoring FIU 24-13. A 10-1 run out of the break made it 52-38, a 3-pointer from freshman Coco Rudolph helped the push, and a later 9-0 burst sent JU into the fourth up 64-50. FIU won the final quarter 14-11 but could not get closer.
Jacksonville made 25 of 30 free throws, while FIU went 53.8% at the line. JU also outrebounded the Panthers 39-31 and collected 14 steals, five each from Mamoudou and Tatum Brown. Sophomore Aniah Smith scored 13 and Rudolph had 10, giving the Dolphins four players in double figures. The win came despite FIU shooting better from the field, 45.8% to 39%, because the Panthers gave the ball away 28 times.
FIU (0-1) got 19 points from Fantasia James and 16 from Breaunna Ward in her Panther debut. FIU hosts Stetson on Nov. 10.
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