Seminole Saturday Summary: FSU Women Down Michigan to Tie School Record

With its third win over a ranked team on the young season, Florida State women’s hoops tied a school record by winning its 12th straight game to open the season.

Against No. 24 Michigan on Sunday in Uncasville, Connecticut for the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase, the eighth-ranked Seminoles overcame a slow start to down the Wolverines, 79-69. FSU forward Kiah Gillespie finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists to become the program’s first player since 2015 to record a triple-double.

The Seminoles trailed 12-3 out of the gate, but drew to within one by halftime. A pair of free throws by Gillespie late in the third quarter, followed by a 3-pointer from Nausia Woolfolk gave FSU a lead it would not relinquish. Layups by Valencia Myers and Woolfolk with just over a minute to go ignited an 11-4 run for the Seminoles to end the game.

Woolfolk led FSU with 21 points. River Baldwin and Valencia Myers added 12 and 10 points, respectively, in the victory. Amy Dilk paced Michigan with a game-high 26 points on 10-for-12 shooting. Kayla Robbins added 20 points in the loss.

With the win, FSU improved to 12-0 — tying the program’s best start with the 2004-05 squad. The Seminoles will try to break that record on Sunday when they host Virginia Tech. The contest begins at 2 p.m. EST and airs regionally on Fox Sports networks.

Football

Record: 6-6 (4-4 ACC)
Ranking: None
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: vs. Arizona State (Tuesday, Sun Bowl)
Recognitions:None
Weekly Commitments: None
2020 Recruiting Class Ranking: No. 21 nationally, fourth in ACC (18 total commitments)*
Big Picture: New FSU head coach Mike Norvell has done nice offseason work, but the Seminoles will need to beat Arizona State in the Sun Bowl to avoid a second straight losing season.

Men’s Basketball

Record: 11-2 (1-1 ACC)
Ranking: No. 17 AP Poll; No. 17 USA Today Coaches Poll
Past Week: (1-0), defeated North Alabama, 88-71
Upcoming: vs. Georgia Tech (Tuesday); at Louisville (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Weekly Commitments: None
2020 Recruiting Class Ranking: No. 26 nationally, sixth in ACC (3 total commitments)*
Big Picture: Florida State finished non-conference play with an easy victory over North Alabama and will prepare for 18 straight ACC games.

Weekly Review

North Alabama 71, (17) FSU 88
Saturday, Dec. 28
Florida State shot 50 percent and forced 18 turnovers to wrap up non-conference play with a win over North Alabama. Malik Osborne led the Seminoles with 14 points while Balsa Koprivica, Patrick Williams, Anthony Polite and Trent Forrest added 13, 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Lions shot 10-for-20 from deep. North Alabama’s Jamari Blackmon shot 4-fot-7 from the field and finished with a game-high 15 points. FSU led by as many as 30 points in the second half.

Women’s Basketball

Record: 12-0 (1-0 ACC)
Ranking: No. 8 AP Poll; No. 8 USA Today Coaches Poll
Past Week: (1-0), defeated Michigan, 79-69
Upcoming: vs. Virginia Tech (Sunday); at Syracuse (Thursday)
Recognitions: Kiah Gillespie, F (ACC Co-Player of the Week); River Baldwin, C (ACC Co-Player of the Week)
Big Picture: With its third win of the season over a ranked team, FSU tied a program record for consecutive wins to open a season.

Weekly Review

(24) Michigan 69, (8) FSU 79
Sunday, Dec. 22 (Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase)
Florida State finished strong in Connecticut to top Michigan and stay undefeated on the young season. The Wolverines led by nine in the first quarter and 32-31 at halftime but FSU dominated the second half and closed the game on an 11-4 run. FSU’s Kiah Gillespie finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists to become the first Seminole to record a triple-double since 2015. Nausia Woolfolk paced FSU with 21 points while River Baldwin and Valencia Myers added 12 and 10 points, respectively. Amy Dilk played all 40 minutes for Michigan and finished with a game-high 26 points on 10-for-12 shooting.

Other News

FSU has named Mississippi State’s Chris Marve its new linebackers coach and Maryland’s John Papuchis its new special teams coach. FSU has hired Memphis defensive backs coach T.J. Rushing for the same position.

FSU diver Joshua Davidson took bronze in the 1-meter at the 2019 USA Diving Winter Nationals.

FSU beach volleyball has unveiled its 2020 schedule and will open the season on Feb. 21 against Louisiana-Monroe.

FSU cornerback Stanford Samuels III will forego his senior season and enter the NFL Draft.

FSU offensive coordinator Kendal Briles will take the same position at Arkansas.

FSU has hired Los Angeles Rams’ director of operations Bruce Warwick as football chief of staff. FSU has also named Memphis’ John Storms strength and conditioning coach.

FSU has added transfer running back Jashaun Corbin from Texas A&M and graduate transfer offensive lineman Devontay Taylor from Florida International.

FSU women’s tennis has unveiled its 2020 schedule and will open the season on Jan. 17 in Hawaii against Washington.

*247Sports Composite rankings

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.