GREENSBORO COLISEUM These two teams allegedly just don’t like each other.
- Photo courtesy FSU athletics
- FSU guard Alexa Deluzio
Friday morning’s kid-fest brings the first rivalry game of this season’s ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament, with No. 4 seed Florida State taking on No. 5 seed Miami.
The Seminoles are 21-8, ranked No. 23 in the latest AP poll and certainly headed for the NCAA Tournament. The Hurricanes are 21-9 and may or may not be on the bubble.
FSU won both regular-season meetings, 86-65 on Jan. 13 in Tallahassee and 93-78 on Feb. 10 in Coral Gables.
Duke alumna Katie Meier coaches the Hurricanes.
Today FSU leads most of the way, holding on for a 70-58 victory.
FSU is up 33-23 at the half, the big difference being the Seminoles’ four turnovers to Miami’s 11.
Miami’s closest approach of the second half is 48-44, on Shawnice Wilson’s layup from Morgan Stroman with 7:21 to go.
Alexa Deluzio leads the Seminoles with 19 points, followed by Chelsea Davis with 15, Yashira Delgado with 12 and Chasity Clayton 10.
Shawnice Wilson paces Miami with 18 points and 18 rebounds, followed by Suriya McGuire with 13 and Stroman 12.
FSU shoots 36.2 percent to Miami’s 33.9. Miami wins the rebound battle 48-41, but commits just eight turnovers to the Hurricanes’ 23.
They said it …
FSU coach Sue Semrau: “I get excited for this team. We all know the old adage that it’s tough to beat a team three times in a year, especially your in-state rival. Miami fights. Miami, they do such a great job with their program. We’re really proud of them representing our state here in the ACC and now in the NCAA tournament. I’m really proud of our fight. Pepper (Wilson), she’s tough, she’s big, she’s hard to guard. I thought, even (Delgado) at times went up high to rip rebounds. I was just extremely proud of our fight, our courage and looking forward to moving forward.”
Meier: “For somebody who really enjoys strategy in basketball games and really studies the game, there was a heck of a lot of chess pieces being moved around in that particular game. Teams that are very familiar with each other that have specific talent, that’s very different. You just try to make the game is moving in a direction of your talent versus their talent. Without question, I thought my team battled and really did a fantastic job on the defensive end throughout the entire game. But the minute you get tired, the minute you hit a screen instead of fighting through it, the minute that you forget an assignment, usually Alexa Deluzio hits you.”
What does it all mean?
That FSU improves its standing for NCAA Tournament seeding, and that Miami is probably going to the NCAA anyway.
Stars of the game
1. Deluzio.
2. Wilson.
3. Davis.
Play of the game
Deluzio’s 3-pointer to make it 57-48 with 3:44 to go.
Streaks
FSU: Won1.
Miami: Lost 1.
Series
FSU leads 33-11.
Up next
Florida State vs. Duke, Saturday, 1 p.m.
Miami in NCAA Tournament?
