Florida State Falls to Georgia Tech After Late Run, Drops ACC Matchup at Home
Florida State women’s basketball ended January with a tough home loss, falling 80-69 to Georgia Tech at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Despite showing flashes of control and cutting the deficit to just three early in the fourth quarter, a decisive 12-0 run by the Yellow Jackets proved to be the turning point, putting the game out of reach for the Seminoles.
This one stings for FSU, now 7-14 overall and 2-7 in ACC play. The Seminoles had their chances - they led after the first quarter, fought back in the third, and made it a one-possession game in the final frame - but Georgia Tech made the big plays when it mattered most.
Junior guard Sole Williams once again led the way for Florida State, finishing with 18 points, six rebounds, and three assists. She set the tone early and tried to keep FSU in it late, knocking down a three and a layup to spark a fourth-quarter push. But the Seminoles couldn’t sustain the momentum.
Pania Davis was a force in the paint, nearly notching a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds. She also tallied three of FSU’s eight blocks and added a steal, providing a defensive presence that kept the game competitive through three quarters. Senior guard Amaya Bonner chipped in with 14 points and four assists, giving the Seminoles a balanced trio of scoring threats.
Defensively, FSU had its moments. The Seminoles blocked eight shots, forced 13 turnovers, and came away with seven steals.
In stretches, especially in the third quarter, their intensity on that end helped them climb back into the game. They opened the second half with a 6-2 run and forced four turnovers in the first five minutes of the third, cutting Georgia Tech’s lead to single digits heading into the final period.
But in the end, it was Georgia Tech who delivered the knockout blow. After FSU pulled within three early in the fourth, the Yellow Jackets answered with a 12-0 run that silenced the home crowd and put the game away.
Talayah Walk led all scorers with 24 points for Georgia Tech, and former Seminole Brianna “Snoop” Turnage made her return to Tallahassee felt - not with her scoring (seven points), but with her dominance on the glass. She pulled down 18 rebounds, giving her team a major edge in second-chance opportunities and defensive stops.
What’s Next for Florida State
With February on the horizon, the road doesn’t get any easier for the Seminoles. They’ll head to Clemson (14-7, 5-4) on Sunday to open the month as part of the Pray4Kay series, with tipoff set for 4 p.m. on ACC Network. Then it’s a quick turnaround to face NC State (14-6, 7-2) on Thursday night in Raleigh, another tough test in conference play.
Florida State has shown flashes of potential throughout the season - from strong starts to second-half rallies - but putting together a full 40-minute performance remains the challenge. As they enter the final stretch of the regular season, consistency and execution in crunch time will be key if they want to turn things around in ACC play.