North Carolina
Florida State
Women's Hoops Tops FSU, 78-74
February 23, 2000 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 23, 2000
Courtesy of TheACC.com, the official web site of the ACC.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State trailed just 53.6 seconds and shot 56 percent for the game but fell 78-74 to North Carolina, in the Seminoles' final home game of the season. April Traylor led FSU, now 11-14 and 4-10, with 19 points while ACC leading-scorer LaQuanda Barksdale paced the Tar Heels, who improved to 15-11 and 7-8, with a game-high 26 points.
With the exception of two ties, the Seminoles led the entire first half behind 10 first half points from Latavia Coleman. It was a half of spurts, mostly for the Seminoles Florida State broke an early 2-2 tie with seven straight points to take a 9-2 lead at the 16:26 mark. North Carolina cut the FSU lead to three at 13-10 when the Tribe ran off eight straight points to take its largest lead of 11 at 21-10 with 11:14 remaining. But then it was the Tar Heels' turn. UNC outscored the Seminoles 13-2 over the next six minutes to force the game's second tie at 23-23 at the 5:39 mark. FSU responded again with eight unanswered points to go up 31-23. But North Carolina clawed its way back once again and trailed by just one at 36-35 at the break. The Seminoles outrebounded UNC 22-16 and edged the Heels in shooting 47 percent to 44 percent. Barksdale led all scorers with 14 points.
The Seminoles started the second half scoring the first four points to pull ahead by five. With the exception of two early ties and one brief lead change, the Seminoles again led the entire half until 43.6 seconds left to play. With two straight buckets by Lauren Bradley, FSU took its largest lead of the second half at 63-55 with 7:05 remaining. However, the final four minutes were too close for comfort as the point spread was four points or less. UNC's Nikki Teasley gave the Tar Heels just their second lead of the game at 75-74 with two free throws at 43.6 seconds on the clock.
Teasley put the Heels up by three with two more from the charity stripe and with 4.2 seconds left, FSU's Lakesha Springle was fouled while attempting a three-pointer. Springle missed the first two and intentionally missed the third, but UNC got the ball and Barksdale was fouled. She hit the second of two attempts, giving UNC the 78-74 win.
"Florida State is really tough," UNC Head Coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "They don't quit, they work hard and they believe in themselves. I am sure they will give it all they have at the ACC Tournament."
Seminole senior co-captain Latavia Coleman echoed that thought.
"It's one game and you're out," Coleman said. "We have to go into the tournament and take care of business."
Coleman and Bradley also tallied double figures for the Tribe with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Brooke Wyckoff paced the Seminoles, who outrebounded UNC 35-34, with eight rebounds. UNC's Nikki Teasley had 21 points while Juana Brown added 13.
"It was a heartbreaker," FSU Head Coach Sue Semrau said. "They played their hearts out and I am very proud of them."
FSU will travel to Durham for a 7 p.m. tilt with the Duke Blue Devils on Thursday, February 24th.
