The Western Kentucky women’s basketball team saw its season come to an end with a 64-60 loss to Florida International on Saturday at E.A. Diddle Arena.

A late rally fell short for WKU (8-21 overall, 4-14 Conference USA), which was looking to end the season on a high note on a day it honored its six seniors. It was another close loss for WKU, which was eliminated from the Conference USA tournament with Thursday’s loss to Missouri State, and finished 3-7 in games decided by five points or less.

“I was really proud that the girls kept fighting,” WKU coach Greg Collins said. “We’re not proud of our record. That’s not what we are expecting or accustomed to, but I am proud that they kept fighting. I told them at the end that they competed like we were competing for a championship, knowing that we weren’t going to get to play again. A lot of teams wouldn’t have done that.”

FIU (19-10, 12-6) jumped out to an early lead before WKU used a 12-4 run to surge in front 14-9 late in the first quarter. FIU scored the last four points of the quarter and continued the run with 12 straight to open the second — regaining a 25-14 advantage.

WKU got the deficit down to 29-25 on a 3-pointer from Trinity Rowe before FIU scored the final three points to take a 32-25 lead into halftime.

The FIU advantage grew to 43-30 early in the third. WKU got it down to 47-43 on another Rowe 3 late in the quarter before FIU hit two free throws to make the score 49-43 heading into the fourth.

FIU started to pull away again, with the margin growing to 60-48 before WKU made one final push. The Lady Toppers scored 10 straight to pull within 60-58 with 2:27 left. WKU was unable to get any closer.

“Before the game coach told us our effort is what defines us,” Rowe said. “Not a win or loss, so I feel like we came out gave our best effort. Moving forward into next season, into life for our seniors, they will be able to use this as experience to go out in life and give effort in everything they do.

“It speaks volumes for how we feel and respect coach enough to go out there and try to fight for the win.”

Rowe led the way with a season-high 24 points — including seven made 3. The sophomore was the first Lady Topper to hit seven 3s in a game since Dee Givins in 2019.

Salma Khedr and Tia Shelling, one of WKU’s six seniors along with Zsofia Telegdy, Yendri Acosta, Caleigh-Rose West, Mya Pratcher and Jeniffer Silva, added 11 points each.

“I am really proud that all six of (the seniors) are going to get a degree from WKU,” Collins said. “In this day and age, some kids change schools more than they change clothes or socks. I’m proud that we got some that are one year — several that are two years — and they are going to get their degree.”

Collins added he had thanked the seniors for all they contributed this season.

“All season we talked about you don’t stop running a race in the middle and you don’t stop peddling when you are going uphill,” Collins said. “I told them they made it. They have to be proud of how they closed out their career. Not proud of the win-loss record. Not proud of not being able to compete for a championship, but they competed and they never gave up.”

Shelling said she had a simple message for the returning players.

“Don’t take this as a losing season,” Shelling said. “Take this as a lesson. Learn from it. Grow from it. Don’t dwell on it. Worry about the future and the present because you can’t control the past.”

COLLINS TO RETURN NEXT SEASON

WKU announced following Saturday’s game that Collins would return as head coach next season.

In a statement, WKU athletics director Todd Stewart announced a significant financial commitment, including from Collins, and the coach’s previous success weighed into the decision.

“Multiple donors have made a significant commitment to the program’s NIL fund and our major women’s basketball benefactors want this,” Stewart said. “Coach Collins is also making a financial commitment. As a result, the program will have substantially more resources available with respect to NIL in building a roster for 2026-27 than we had in 2025-26. Coach Collins has been a part of 286 wins with our program, including 132 as head coach, and he has helped 10 players earn All-Conference honors.

“The team won 23 games a year ago, and I am confident our new resources will result in significant and notable improvement immediately. This program has a history of 20-win seasons, competing for conference championships and reaching post-season tournaments and these goals are the expectation of our program.”

Collins also released a statement apologizing for the 8-21 finish.

“We clearly fell way short of the expectations this program deserves, and no one is more disappointed than I am,” he said. “The collegiate athletics world has changed dramatically, and we did not meet the new challenges this season. We do have a detailed plan for significant improvement, and I appreciate the new NIL commitments by our donors that will immediately impact our program. I also will be devoting a portion of my salary to our program’s NIL pool. We will soon return to winning at the magnitude this program expects, and I am more committed than ever to take this program to the level it belongs.”