by Chicago State’s Josie Hill recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds and added to her season total in blocked shots with three in a 73-55 loss Wednesday afternoon to Florida International in the FIU MTE Christmas Classic at Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami, Florida. Hill entered the week ranked second in the nation in blocks with 39 and added to that total with nine in the three-day MTE.
FIU jumped out to a 7-0 lead and ended the first quarter break with a 15-point advantage, 24-9. The Cougars started the second quarter with a pair of runs (8-2 and 7-2), and cut the lead to six and both teams struggled shooting with the teams combining for a single field goal in the final 4:17 and the Panthers led by nine at the half, 34-25. The teams exchanged scores to start the third and Chicago State cut the margin to eight at the 7:21 mark before FIU reeled of a 10-0 run in just over two minutes to take control of the contest.
Hill led the Cougars with 16 points and Claire Simmons was the only other player in double figures with 14. Jacia Cunningham had three points and averaged 13.0 during the tournament to earn an all-tournament team selection. Hailey Hohenecker scored her first points in a Cougars uniform with four and also had six rebounds, two assists and three steals in her first extended for Chicago State.
