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Jan. 23, 2004
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Junior LaTonya Blue (Baltimore, Md.) nailed the game-winning lay-up as time expired to give Virginia an 82-80 overtime win at Florida State.
“Unbelievable,” said head coach Debbie Ryan. “Now we’ve learned how to win. We have confidence at the end of the game.”
The Cavaliers improved to 9-8 overall and 3-3 in the ACC, while Florida State fell to 10-8 overall and 3-4 in the conference.
In the first half, Florida State opened the game with a 14-0 run. The Seminoles built their lead to 22 points, 28-6, with 7:06 to go. FSU led by 12 at the break, 32-30.
“Florida State played well. They put us in a deep hole early. We rallied in the locker room at halftime,” said Ryan.
In the second half, Florida State maintained a double-digit lead until the 10-minute mark. Senior Anna Crosswhite (Castlecrag, Australia) came off the bench and nailed a three to put the Cavaliers within six points, 55-49, with 5:49 on the clock. FSU regained a 14-point lead, but the pesky Cavaliers came back to tie the game, 68-68, with another Crosswhite three with 1:09 on the clock. Florida State went ahead by two with 0:47 on the clock, and then Crosswhite nailed a bucket with :05.4 left to send the game into overtime.
In overtime, the Cavaliers got their first lead of the game, 80-79, on a jumper by senior Safiya Grant-Fairley (Bronx, N.Y.). Florida State tied the game on a free-throw with two seconds on the clock. Blue missed a jumper, grabbed her own rebound and put the lay-up in for the win as time expired.
Junior Kate Kreager (Oak Hill, Va.) paced UVa with a career-high 19 points, including a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. Blue and sophomore Tiffany Sardin (Chicago, Ill.) finished with 12 points each. Crosswhite had 11 points in 13 minutes of action.
“Anna Crosswhite really helped us in the last few minutes. I was really proud of our leaders,” commented Ryan.
Shante Williams paced FSU with 19 points. Tasheika Allen had 15, Lauren Bradley scored 12 and Trinetta Moore added 10 for the Seminoles.
Overall, FSU out-rebounded UVa, 40-33.
Last night, Virginia witnessed the Florida State comeback over North Carolina in men’s basketball action. The Seminoles overcame a 24-point deficit to win in overtime.
“Last night’s game helped us,” added Ryan. “It helps you in games like this, just to know it can be done.”
Virginia travels to Clemson on Sunday, Jan. 25 for a 2 p.m. game. WINA will broadcast the game live on the radio and the UVa website.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
1 2 OT - FinalVirginia (9-8, 3-3 ACC) 20 50 12 - 82Florida State (10-8, 3-4 ACC) 32 38 10 - 80