Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Florida State fans. We’ll keep you up on the latest in FSU athletics by updating the news and notes section throughout the day.
Lead Story
Florida State’s women’s basketball team will look to duplicate what the men did on Thursday night and advance past the first round of the NCAA Tournament. No. 3 seed FSU’s quest for a Final Four appearance begins on Friday night against 14th-seeded Western Illinois.
The Leathernecks are in the tournament with a record of 26-6 after winning the Horizon League. They’re led by guard Emily Clemens, who averages better than 19 points and seven assists per game. Morgan Blumer scores nearly 17 points per game and grabs better than six rebounds. Taylor Higginbotham averages better than 14 points.
For FSU, ACC Player of the Year Shakayla Thomas, a junior, is the player to watch. Thomas averaged nearly 15 points per game while shooting better than 50 percent from the field this season. Guards Leticia Romero, Brittany Brown and Imani Wright are all very good players as well.
The Seminoles, who come in 25-6, have advanced past the first round in each of the last four seasons. Last season, FSU reached the Sweet 16 before falling to Baylor. Thursday’s contest begins at 7:30 p.m. EST and airs on ESPN2.
Between the Lines
The FSU swimming and diving team competed in the NCAA Championships on Thursday. FSU beach volleyball fell to No. 1 USC, 3-2. The FSU men’s hoops team defeated Florida Gulf Coast in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 86-80.
On the Agenda
In addition to women’s basketball, FSU swimming and diving continues the NCAA Championships on Friday. FSU track and field will be in Atlanta for the Yellow Jacket Invitational and Tampa for the Bulls Invitational. The FSU women’s golf team will be in Mesa, Arizona for the Notre Dame Clover Cup. FSU baseball will take on Virginia Tech.
FSU beach volleyball will continue play out in Hawaii against Utah, Arizona and Hawaii. Both the FSU men’s and women’s tennis teams will be at home to take on Clemson and Duke, respectively. The FSU softball team opens a 3-game series against Notre Dame in a contest that begins at 6 p.m. EST and airs on ACC Network Extra.
News and Notes
Dwayne Bacon’s 25 points on Thursday night was the most for an FSU player in the NCAA Tournament since Toney Douglas scored 26 in 2009.
Florida State used back-to-back big innings to down Virginia Tech on Friday, 9-2.
What You May Have Missed From The Daily Nole
FSU Outlasts FGCU to Advance to Round of 32
Inside the Numbers: FSU Feasting on Bad Pitching, Slumping vs. Good
The Daily Nole — March 16, 2017: FSU Softball Wins a Pair
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
Phil Kelly/FSU athletics
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