Pregame notes: FSU women's hoops at Wake Forest

[Bob Ferrante]

The No. 23 Florida State women’s basketball team faces Wake Forest on the road on Thursday at 6 p.m. at LJVM Coliseum. (live stream on ACC Network Extra).

Picked ninth in the ACC predicted order of finish, Florida State Women’s Basketball is looking to clinch a Top-4 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament. Entering Thursday’s game at Wake Forest, FSU is tied for fourth in the league with Louisville and would be the No. 5 seed if the season ended today.

The Seminoles have built a strong post-season résumé, owning three AP Top 25 wins over Duke (70-57), North Carolina (78-71) and NC State (91-72), five wins against the NET Top 50 and 15 wins against the NET Top 100.

Since the 2009-10 season, Ta’Niya Latson is just the sixth freshman to record 30 points or more in at least seven games. In nearly 25 percent of her games this season, she has dropped 30 or more against an opponent. The last freshman to record 30 or more points seven or more times was Caitlin Clark of Iowa, who had 12 games in 2020-21. The other freshmen in that group include Kennedy Carter (7), Kelsey Mitchell (7), Kevi Luper (8) and Elena Delle Donne (8).

The Seminoles lead the ACC in blocks per game (5.9), free throw attempts per game (22.7), free throws made per game (16.5), defensive rebounds per game (30.9), rebounds per game (43.7) and scoring offense (82.3).

 

[Bob Ferrante]

Ariya and I were texting about this. We think FSU gets a top-4 seed if the Seminoles win out (at Wake and at Clemson) but Louisville needs to lose to Miami tonight or Notre Dame on Sunday. The Cardinals are home for both of those games.

 

[Bob Ferrante]

FSU leads 8-4 at the first media timeout

 

[Bob Ferrante]

FSU is just 3 of 14 from the floor. Has gone cold here but game is tied 12-12

 

[Bob Ferrante]

1Q stats

 

[Bob Ferrante]

FSU is just 6 of 27 from the floor

On the bright side, they have five offensive boards and 10 points

Not the prettiest 25-24 lead

 

[Bob Ferrante]

Halftime:

 

[Bob Ferrante]

Latson with a layup and a few free throws to open the 3Q

FSU 37-30

 

[Bob Ferrante]

Latson and Bejedi with four points each in the 3Q

FSU 39-30 at 6:47 TV timeout

 

[Bob Ferrante]

Now FSU has gone cold, drought of 3:12

 

[Bob Ferrante]

Latson with 15 points. And she is getting calls, going to the line. 7 of 8 from the line

 

[Bob Ferrante]

With Timpson in foul trouble, a big game from Valencia Myers

She has 12 points (8 of 10 from the line) and six rebounds

 

[Bob Ferrante]

End of 3Q stats:

 

[Bob Ferrante]

FSU now 21 of 29 from the line. Getting to the line and making them (although could make a few more)

 

[Bob Ferrante]

FSU struggling from the floor. Different in round 2 with FSU-Wake

 

[Bob Ferrante]

Wake with a 3, cuts the FSU lead to 54-52

4 minutes to go

 

[Bob Ferrante]

FSU hangs on 61-60

 

[semispear]

Great defense by Bejedi on Spear once again. Myers looked like her Fresh/Soph year which is good to see!

Road games are really tough for this team so I’m glad they were able to pull it out.

 

[JonScott]

Terrible shooting night 32% and 7.7 % from three. A loss to Wake would have been awful.

 

[NoleLizards]

Terrible shooting night 32% and 7.7 % from three. A loss to Wake would have been awful.

Better to have an off night and win than take the L. Fortunately it counts in the standings.