By David Knox
Sports Editor
Kristian Hudson decided to play her college basketball a long way from home.
The Clay-Chalkville graduate, who scored more than 2,000 points in her Lady Cougar career, chose to play basketball at Florida International University in Miami. That’s been a good choice, as the true freshman has had an outstanding season.
As luck would have it, she got to end her rookie season playing close to home, at Bartow Arena in the Conference USA women’s basketball tournament. And she made the most of it in Tuesday’s first game.
Hudson drained a 3-pointer with 1:10 to play to tie the game, then calmly sank four free throws in the final 14 seconds as the Golden Panthers upset Texas-San Antonio 61-56. Hudson finished with 16 points and five assists while playing 37 minutes.
Interim head coach Tiara Malcom and Hudson embraced at courtside with huge grins at the conclusion of the game.
“She asked me if she was open if she shoot it,’” Malcom said. “I said, ‘If you shoot it, you better make it.’ She made it and kudos to her.”
FIU (5-25), the 14th seed, advanced to face Marshall on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Bartow.
The only freshman on the FIU roster, the 5-foot-5 Hudson nonetheless broke into the starting lineup after just two games. She started the next 30, including Tuesday’s game, as the Panthers point guard.
She averaged 9.9 points, 4.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game. Her big night was a 20-point, seven-rebound effort against crosstown rival Miami, which was ranked No. 23 in the country at the time. She had a season-high 10 assists against Western Kentucky.