Women's Basketball

Seminoles Flatten Orange to Earn Shot at Wolfpack

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – After three Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament quarterfinal games that offered considerable drama, Florida State made certain Friday night’s session finale was void of all suspense.
 
The sixth-seeded Seminoles led from opening tap to final buzzer as they pulled away from third-seeded Syracuse for a 78-65 victory at Greensboro Coliseum. FSU led by as many as 27 points in the fourth quarter before the Orange closed the gap in the fading minutes.
 
FSU (23-9) will face second-seeded NC State (26-5) in Sunday’s 2:30 p.m. semifinal game. The Seminoles will seek to avenge an 88-80 overtime road loss to the Wolfpack in the regular-season meeting Jan. 18.
 
Despite Friday night’s stumble, the nationally 20th-ranked Orange (23-7) remains in good position for an NCAA Tournament selection when the complete field is announced on March 17.
 
Sophomore Ta’Niya Latson led the Seminoles with 25 points, and O’Mariah Gordon scored a career-high 24.
 
Makayla Timpson added 10 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in posting her 17th double-double of the season, extending the school record she set in Thursday night’s second-round win over Wake Forest.
 
All-ACC first-teamer Dyaisha Fair scored 23 points to led Syracuse, which was playing for the first time in eight days following an open Saturday the final weekend of the regular season and an ACC Tournament double-bye.
 
Saniaa Wilson added 14 for the Orange.
 
Of Note
- FSU reached its seventh ACC Tournament semifinal and the third in it last seven appearances. The Seminoles previously reached the semis in 2001, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2015, 2018 and 2020.
- FSU is now 7-6 all-time versus Syracuse, winning six of the last seven matchups. 
- The Seminoles’ Gordon scored in double figures for the 27th time this season.
-Timpson, who registered her 17th double-figure rebounding game this season, had 11 boards in the first half alone. 
- Syracuse’s Fair pushed her career scoring total to 3,351 points and ranks sixth all-time among NCAA women’s scorers. Fair scored at least 20 points for the fifth straight game and 20th time this season.