WESTCHESTER, Fla. (Interstat) — A dominant third-quarter surge propelled the Florida International women’s basketball team to an 86-76 victory over Maryland-Baltimore County on Friday afternoon at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

The Golden Panthers, who entered the second half trailing by two points, exploded for 31 points in the third quarter, completely flipping the momentum of the game and handing the visiting Retrievers their fifth loss of the season.

The contest began as a defensive struggle, with both teams struggling to find an offensive rhythm. Maryland-Baltimore County capitalized on Florida International’s early shooting woes to build a 19-10 lead after the first quarter. The Retrievers extended their lead to 11 points in the second quarter before the Golden Panthers began to chip away, closing the half on a run to trim the deficit to 31-29.

The game’s complexion changed entirely after halftime. Florida International’s offense came alive, spearheaded by the duo of Rhema Collins and Parris Atkins. The Golden Panthers shot efficiently from the floor and capitalized on a staggering number of Retrievers turnovers to outscore UMBC 31-21 in the period, taking a 60-52 lead into the final frame.

Maryland-Baltimore County attempted to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, scoring 24 points, but could never close the gap to a single possession as Florida International answered every run, ultimately securing the 10-point win.

The story of the game was written in the turnover column. Maryland-Baltimore County committed 31 turnovers, which Florida International converted into numerous transition opportunities. The Golden Panthers’ defense was relentless, tallying 17 steals, while their offense was more disciplined with only 18 turnovers. Florida International also dished out 17 assists, more than doubling the Retrievers’ total of eight, illustrating a clear disparity in ball movement and offensive execution.

Kennedy Austin was the standout performer for Maryland-Baltimore County. The guard from Waldorf, Maryland, scored a game-high 24 points and pulled down seven rebounds in just 21 minutes of action, providing a significant offensive spark off the bench.

For Florida International, the effort was more balanced. Rhema Collins, a 6-foot-2 forward from Nassau, Bahamas, recorded a double-double with 19 points and eight rebounds in 38 minutes. Parris Atkins, a guard from Little Rock, Arkansas, was instrumental on both ends, contributing 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and a block. Fellow Bahamian Denika Lightbourne matched Collins’ scoring output with 19 points of her own, and Grecia Ferrer Leal of Badalona, Spain, added 12 points.

For the Retrievers, Jade Tillman of Rockville, Maryland, controlled the glass with a game-high 12 rebounds to go with seven points. Carmen Yanez from the Canary Islands, Spain, facilitated the offense with five assists.

From a statistical perspective, Florida International was the more efficient team, shooting 29 of 63 from the field compared to Maryland-Baltimore County’s 25 of 61. Both teams struggled from beyond the arc, with the Golden Panthers making 6 of 19 and the Retrievers hitting just 5 of 21. Free throws were a key factor, with Florida International attempting 34 and making 22, while UMBC went 21 for 29 from the line.

With the win, Florida International evened its season record at 2-3. Maryland-Baltimore County fell to 2-5. The Retrievers continue their road trip with a game at Seattle on Sunday. Florida International’s next contest is at home against Georgia State on Dec. 5.