Ranked No. 8 in the country, Florida State’s women’s hoops team has been nothing short of impressive to start the season.
The Seminoles tied a program record on Sunday with their 12th straight win to open a season in a 79-69 win over Michigan. At 12-0, FSU has equaled its best start with the 2004-05 team and will try to best that this weekend when it hosts Virginia Tech.
Early this season, the trio of forward Kiah Gillespie and guards Nicki Ekhomu and Nausia Woolfolk may be the best in the ACC. A 2-time ACC Player of the Week, Gillespie is averaging a double-double with 15.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
Woolfolk also averages better than 15 points per game to go with a team-high 1.9 steals per contest. Ekhomu averages 13.1 points per game and a team-best 4.6 assists per contest.
While those three headline the Seminoles this season, FSU is deeper than it was last season when it reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament and fell to South Carolina. Sophomore guard Morgan Jones and freshman Sammie Puisis are both proving capable of big scoring nights. On the inside, Valencia Myers, a sophomore and River Baldwin, a freshman, are both very good rim protectors.
Myers is a great athlete while Baldwin shared ACC Co-Player of the Week honors with Gillespie after stellar efforts against North Florida and Michigan. In total, FSU has seven players averaging at least six points per game.
The Seminoles’ hot start has not come against lackluster competition. Three of FSU’s wins were over ranked competition and two were away from Tallahassee, including an 80-58 beatdown of then No. 6 and current No. 11 Texas A&M in College Station. FSU also has road wins over LSU, Florida and Clemson.
Now in her 23rd season at Florida State, Sue Semrau has led FSU to seven straight NCAA Tournaments and 14 of the last 15. FSU wasn’t stopped short of the second round in any of those tourney appearances, reaching the Sweet 16 five times and the Elite Eight thrice.
Semrau however, has yet to reach the Final Four nor has she led the Seminoles to an ACC title. The Seminoles are hopeful this is the season that both of those things change.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login