Florida International University athletics took center stage over the weekend as the women’s basketball team readied themselves for tournament play and baseball hosted an in-state rival.
The Heat went on a three-game skid, even though newly acquired Vladimir Tarasenko added even more firepower to the Panthers. Inter Miami lost against the second seed in the MLS Eastern Conference. And American open-wheel racing was showcased in Florida.
The FIU women’s basketball team officially clinched the third seed in Conference USA ahead of its tournament this week. Their quarterfinal matchup against New Mexico State is set to tip off on Thursday. Sideline was outside of the Ocean Bank Convocation Center this morning to break down the Panthers’ tournament hopes.
The tense atmosphere was also felt across the street inside of the FIU Baseball stadium. Rival Florida Atlantic University was in town this weekend. Sideline was there to ask fans from both sides what fuels the animosity between the two institutions.
The Heat finds itself back in the eighth seed a few weeks after managing to rise up the Eastern Conference. The team’s weekend finished on a major down note yesterday, as it lost to the 11-53 Washington Wizards, 110-108.
The Panthers looked playoff-ready on Saturday. After suffering a loss at home, Tarasenko chipped in two of the Panthers’ five goals scored against the Calgary Flames. The Flames put up little resistance to the onslaught, notching just one goal.
Inter Miami lost a crucial game to CF Montreal yesterday, 3-2. The two squads are now tied with seven points at the top of the Eastern Conference.
St.Petersburg played host to the season opener of the NTT IndyCar Series. The 2023 Indianapolis 500 winner, Josef Newgarden, secured his third win on the track.
