TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Seminoles.com) – Florida State Women’s Basketball (9-9, 3-5) is looking to extend its win streak over Virginia (3-14, 0-7) to five straight games when the two teams meet at the Donald L. Tucker Center on Sunday at Noon on Bally Sports Florida and a host of other regional sports networks.
Sunday’s game is Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day, as those who qualify can claim two complimentary tickets at the Donald L. Tucker Center ticket window beginning at 11 a.m. on game day.
Virginia, which has a strong history in women’s basketball, leads the all-time series over the Seminoles 35-20 after winning the first 20 meetings from 1990-2000. Since 2001, Florida State has gone 20-15 vs. UVA and has won seven of the last eight meetings since March 2,
2014.
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Florida State senior forward Valencia Myers had a historic defensive performance last year vs. Virginia, tying a school-record with nine blocked shots in a 69-51 win in Tallahassee on Dec. 13, 2020. The nine blocks tied former FSU standout Jacinta Monroe’s record, which she set against Georgia Tech on Jan. 18, 2009.
Sunday’s home matchup vs. Virginia leads into a daunting February finish to the regular season, which includes several opportunities for the Seminoles. In February, FSU has road games at NC State (2nd in NET), Duke (38), Miami (70), Syracuse (82) and home games vs. Notre Dame (19), Boston College (48), North Carolina (5) and Georgia Tech (20). The Seminoles also finish at Pittsburgh.
Despite coming off a 75-62 road loss at No. 5 Louisville, senior guard Morgan Jones put together a scintillating performance against one of the nation’s best defenses. The Senior CLASS Award candidate dropped 28 points vs. UofL, the most allowed by the Cardinals since Notre Dame legend Arike Ogunbowale had 30 against Louisville on Jan. 10, 2019.
Showing �� to the faculty and staff on Sunday ��@floridastate | #NoleFAM pic.twitter.com/jKB2gLrR9a
— FSU Women's Hoops (@fsuwbb) January 28, 2022
Jones is one of seven players whom have three 20-point games in ACC play, joining Virginia Tech’s Elizabeth Kitley (4), Virginia Tech’s Georgia Amoore (3), Boston College’s Cameron Swartz (3), Wake Forest’s Jewel Spear (3), North Carolina’s Deja Kelly (3) and Clemson’s Delicia Washington (3). Overall, Jones has four 20-point games this season.
In 50 career games played at home, Jones is shooting 54.8 percent (194-of-354). In ACC play, Jones is the only guard to rank in the Top five in both scoring (5th; 16.4 ppg) and field goal percentage (5th; 48.8 percent). The only other player to rank in the Top five in both categories is Virginia Tech center Elizabeth Kitley.
Forced to become more of a post defender last year due to attrition, junior guard Sammie Puisis tied her career high with nine rebounds vs. Virginia on Feb. 13, 2020. Puisis is coming off a solid performance vs. Louisville with 10 points, and is 12 of her last 25 from 3-point range.
Freshman point guard O’Mariah Gordon ranks fifth in ACC play with a 1.42 assist/turnover ratio. Among the top five guards, she is the only true freshman.
The Cavaliers are led by the scoring duo of junior forward Camryn Taylor (12.8 ppg) and graduate guard Amandine Toi (12.6 ppg). Virginia is on an eight-game losing skid entering Sunday’s matchup.