Buffalo Ends FSU Women’s Season with NCAA Tournament Rout, 86-65

The No. 11 seed Buffalo Bulls outscored third-seeded Florida State women’s hoops in every quarter in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Donald L. Tucker Center on Monday night to end the Seminoles’ season, 86-65.

Five Buffalo (29-5) scored in double-figures as the Bulls shot better than 47 percent while holding the Seminoles to under 34 percent. Buffalo led 39-30 at the half and watched that lead balloon to 14 by the end of the third quarter. FSU never cut it to single-digits again.

Cierra Dillard led the way with 22 points in the win for Buffalo. Stephanie Reid added 18 points while Summer Hemphill scored 17 and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. Cassie Oursler and Katherine Ups scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, in the win.

In addition to the overall offensive struggles, FSU (26-7) was just 3-for-25 or 12 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. Shakayla Thomas scored a game-high 25 points to pace the Seminoles on an efficient 10-for-15. Nausia Woolfolk scored 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting. The rest of the team was 9 of 45. The only other Florida State player in double-figures was A.J. Alix with 11 points and four assists.

With the loss, FSU fails to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in four years. The Bulls will move on to face South Carolina, who topped Virginia, 66-56, on Sunday.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson