Florida State kept rolling Sunday night, and the scoreboard told the whole story.
The Seminoles blasted Florida A&M 101-42 at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, topping the 100-point mark for the second straight game and moving to 3-0 on the season. FSU also improved to 27-8 all-time against the Rattlers in a game that was never close after the opening stretch.
This was a night built on balance. Florida State had 12 players score and placed five in double figures, with junior guard Tatum Greene setting the pace. Greene finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and four steals, leading all scorers while giving the Seminoles production on both ends.
Fifth-year forward Savannah Henderson turned in a career night of her own, finishing with 15 points and matching career highs with three 3-pointers and four free throws. Fifth-year guard Timaya Lewis-Eutsey added 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting and was perfect at the line, going 4-for-4. Freshman guard Morgan Stewart chipped in 13 points and five rebounds, and senior guard Sole’ Williams posted 12 points and six assists.
Florida State set the tone early and never let up. The Seminoles held Florida A&M to one field goal over the final eight minutes of the first quarter while racing out to a 27-7 lead. Greene had nine points in the opening period alone, fueling the run that put the game out of reach.
The second quarter brought more of the same. FSU closed the half on a 7-0 burst and went into the locker room up 54-15. Greene led the Seminoles with 11 first-half points, Henderson had 10, and Florida State shot 64.3% from the field before the break.
The margin kept growing after halftime. By the start of the fourth quarter, the Seminoles were ahead 80-30, and Lee knocked down a late 3-pointer to push Florida State past 100.
FSU finished at 50.7% shooting, hit nine 3-pointers, outrebounded FAMU 46-31 and added 11 steals and four blocks. The Seminoles now turn to their next home game against West Florida on Nov. 11 at 6 p.m.
In Other News...
Ashton Daniels Faces A Chance Florida State Desperately Needs
Florida States passing game gets a timely chance to breathe against a Pittsburgh defense that has been vulnerable through the air all season. The Panthers sit near the bottom of the national rankings in pass defense, allowing 252 passing yards per game and 13 passing touchdowns, which gives the Seminoles a clear opening to attack a matchup that could help stabilize an offense that has had its share of uneven moments.
For Ashton Daniels, the assignment is as much about efficiency as opportunity. He has thrown 12 interceptions this season, but he also has 14 touchdown passes, and Florida State will need him to lean into the parts of his game that can punish a secondary giving up big plays. With both teams carrying obvious strengths and flaws in the passing game, this one could come down to whether Daniels can take advantage of a defense that has been asking to be challenged. [Read more 🡒]
Florida States Ground Game Faces A Brutal Test At Pitt
Florida State heads to Pittsburgh coming off a win over Boston College, but the bigger storyline may be how the Seminoles handle the ground game on the road. The running back room is dealing with injuries, which adds another layer of difficulty against a Panthers defense that has made life miserable for opposing runners all season.
Pittsburgh just snapped its losing streak with a win over Georgia Tech and now gets a chance to build momentum against a Florida State team it has given problems before. With the Panthers allowing just 68 rushing yards per game, the Seminoles will need to find answers quickly if they want to keep their offense on schedule in a tough road environment. [Read more 🡒]
Florida States Youth Movement Just Changed The Feel Of This Team
Florida States latest win had the feel of a reset as much as a result, with the Seminoles beating Boston College 31-24 behind a roster that looked younger, faster and a little less burdened by everything that had gone wrong around it. Interim head coach Rick Stockstill guided the team after the dismissal of Mike Norvell, and even with injuries thinning out some of the key pieces, Florida State found a way to keep leaning on fresh legs and a simpler edge.
Amari Thomas was at the center of it, carrying 19 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner. For a program trying to steady itself in the middle of a rough stretch, the performance hinted at how much the youth movement can change the tone on the sideline and in the huddle, even if the bigger questions around the season are still waiting to be answered. [Read more 🡒]