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Hokies can't overcome FSU's last run, fall 70-60
By Matthew Spiers 
January 15, 2007
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Last season the Virginia
Tech Hokies went to Tallahassee and stole an ACC game from the Florida
State Seminoles. This season, FSU returned the favor, coming into
Cassell Coliseum on Jan. 15 and stealing one from the Hokies, 70-60, in
front of a holiday crowd of 3,289.
FSU won this game by being more efficient down the stretch. The Hokies took a one-point lead, 56-55, with 5:02 remaining in the game. From that point on, though, the Seminoles hit 5-of-6 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, committing just one turnover. The Hokies, by contrast, hit just 2-of-8 from the floor and committed five turnovers.
Tech dropped to 11-8 overall and 1-3 in the ACC with the loss while FSU improved to 14-3 overall and 3-0 in conference play.
"It was a game of runs, and when they went on that last run, we weren't able to answer," head coach Beth Dunkenberger said. "I really liked our effort in this game. We played as hard as we could, but that is a very talented Florida State team. It's frustrating to come up on the losing end."
The Hokies took an early 8-4 lead after hitting four of their first six shots. But the Seminoles responded with a 12-2 run over the next 5:16. The Hokies went almost five minutes between scores while the 'Noles connected on 8-of-12 to start the game in building a 16-10 advantage.
FSU built its lead to as many as 28-19 thanks to a 7-0 spurt a short time later, but the Hokies answered with a 10-2 run of their own to cut the deficit back to one-point, 30-29. The Hokies had an opportunity to take the lead on its next possession, but Kirby Copeland's jumper rimmed out. FSU's Britany Miller scored a fast-break layup coming off the miss, but Tech's Britney Anderson replied with a basket driving across the lane.
The Seminoles closed out the half when point guard Shante Williams ran a clear-out play. The defense parted for her and she had an uncontested layup; however, she missed the shot. The rebound bounced around and Williams ended up with it on the baseline and hit a 10-foot jumper as time expired. The bucket gave the Seminoles a 34-31 halftime advantage.
The second half began the same as the first, with an 8-4 Tech run, capped by a Copeland breakaway layup, that put the Hokies back on top, 39-38. FSU coach Sue Semrau called a timeout to stem Tech's momentum, but it did not immediately work as the Hokies built their lead to 44-38, making the Tech run 13-4 in all. The Seminoles managed to gather themselves and score on four straight possessions, though, to even the score at 46-46.
After trading baskets for a spell, a 3-pointer by Anderson at the 5:02 mark gave the Hokies a 56-55 lead; however, it would be their last in this game. Semrau subbed in 6-foot-4 Jacinta Monroe for the 5-7 point guard Williams and the Seminoles ran off six unanswered to take a 61-56 lead that they would not relinquish.
After Anderson's trey, FSU outscored the Hokies 15-4 to close the game out and collect its third conference win.
"We started settling for some outside shots there," Dunkenberger said. "Not that they were bad shots, but we had been extremely successful moving that ball around and finding that open person. We took some quick shots and, in turn, they got a couple easy looks and they were attacking in the paint to get a little bit higher percentage shot."
Another difference in this game was points off of turnovers. Both teams committed 17 turnovers, but the Seminoles were more efficient in turning theirs into points. FSU outscored the Hokies 23-13 in points off of turnovers, a 10-point deficit that proved to be the final margin in the game.
The Seminoles got a balanced scoring effort with five players finding their way into double figures. The Hokies held FSU's leading scorers, Alicia Gladden and Miller, in check for most of the game. That duo scored just 10 points apiece. But FSU's other players stepped up. Tanae Davis-Cain led all scorers with 16 points, while Monroe and Williams added 12 and 11, respectively.
Four Hokies reached double figures, led by Nare Diawara with 14. Copeland and Brittany Cook each scored 12 while Anderson finished with 10. Copeland also handed out a career-high seven assists.
The Hokies head due south for their next game, traveling to Winston-Salem to take on Wake Forest on Thursday, Jan. 18. It will be the second meeting between the two teams this season as the Hokies prevailed in the first one, 74-54. The game will tip off at 7 p.m.
FSU won this game by being more efficient down the stretch. The Hokies took a one-point lead, 56-55, with 5:02 remaining in the game. From that point on, though, the Seminoles hit 5-of-6 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, committing just one turnover. The Hokies, by contrast, hit just 2-of-8 from the floor and committed five turnovers.
Tech dropped to 11-8 overall and 1-3 in the ACC with the loss while FSU improved to 14-3 overall and 3-0 in conference play.
"It was a game of runs, and when they went on that last run, we weren't able to answer," head coach Beth Dunkenberger said. "I really liked our effort in this game. We played as hard as we could, but that is a very talented Florida State team. It's frustrating to come up on the losing end."
The Hokies took an early 8-4 lead after hitting four of their first six shots. But the Seminoles responded with a 12-2 run over the next 5:16. The Hokies went almost five minutes between scores while the 'Noles connected on 8-of-12 to start the game in building a 16-10 advantage.
FSU built its lead to as many as 28-19 thanks to a 7-0 spurt a short time later, but the Hokies answered with a 10-2 run of their own to cut the deficit back to one-point, 30-29. The Hokies had an opportunity to take the lead on its next possession, but Kirby Copeland's jumper rimmed out. FSU's Britany Miller scored a fast-break layup coming off the miss, but Tech's Britney Anderson replied with a basket driving across the lane.
The Seminoles closed out the half when point guard Shante Williams ran a clear-out play. The defense parted for her and she had an uncontested layup; however, she missed the shot. The rebound bounced around and Williams ended up with it on the baseline and hit a 10-foot jumper as time expired. The bucket gave the Seminoles a 34-31 halftime advantage.
The second half began the same as the first, with an 8-4 Tech run, capped by a Copeland breakaway layup, that put the Hokies back on top, 39-38. FSU coach Sue Semrau called a timeout to stem Tech's momentum, but it did not immediately work as the Hokies built their lead to 44-38, making the Tech run 13-4 in all. The Seminoles managed to gather themselves and score on four straight possessions, though, to even the score at 46-46.
After trading baskets for a spell, a 3-pointer by Anderson at the 5:02 mark gave the Hokies a 56-55 lead; however, it would be their last in this game. Semrau subbed in 6-foot-4 Jacinta Monroe for the 5-7 point guard Williams and the Seminoles ran off six unanswered to take a 61-56 lead that they would not relinquish.
After Anderson's trey, FSU outscored the Hokies 15-4 to close the game out and collect its third conference win.
"We started settling for some outside shots there," Dunkenberger said. "Not that they were bad shots, but we had been extremely successful moving that ball around and finding that open person. We took some quick shots and, in turn, they got a couple easy looks and they were attacking in the paint to get a little bit higher percentage shot."
Another difference in this game was points off of turnovers. Both teams committed 17 turnovers, but the Seminoles were more efficient in turning theirs into points. FSU outscored the Hokies 23-13 in points off of turnovers, a 10-point deficit that proved to be the final margin in the game.
The Seminoles got a balanced scoring effort with five players finding their way into double figures. The Hokies held FSU's leading scorers, Alicia Gladden and Miller, in check for most of the game. That duo scored just 10 points apiece. But FSU's other players stepped up. Tanae Davis-Cain led all scorers with 16 points, while Monroe and Williams added 12 and 11, respectively.
Four Hokies reached double figures, led by Nare Diawara with 14. Copeland and Brittany Cook each scored 12 while Anderson finished with 10. Copeland also handed out a career-high seven assists.
The Hokies head due south for their next game, traveling to Winston-Salem to take on Wake Forest on Thursday, Jan. 18. It will be the second meeting between the two teams this season as the Hokies prevailed in the first one, 74-54. The game will tip off at 7 p.m.
