Times wires
Sunday, February 27, 2011
TALLAHASSEE — It was senior day at Florida State on Sunday, but it was the underclassmen who took care of business.
Alexa Deluzio had 22 points and junior Cierra Bravard added 15 as the 14th-ranked Seminoles defeated Clemson 67-50 in the regular-season finale for both.
Deluzio had 16 points in the first half, including two 3-pointers that spurred a 9-0 run late in the half. She made 6 of 10 shots, including 4 of 7 3-pointers.
Chelsea Davis added 12 points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench for the Seminoles (23-6, 11-3), who will play Friday night in the ACC tournament after an opening bye.
"Every time she comes in, she's just so solid in what she can do on both ends of the floor," FSU coach Sue Semrau said of Davis. "She's my sixth player of the year. She's a special kid."
Deluzio and Davis, both sophomores, combined to make 10 of 15 shots while their teammates were just 12-of-45.
Courtney Ward had a rough home finale, hitting 2 of 9 shots and committing five turnovers while the other Seminole senior, Christian Hunnicutt, sat out with a left knee sprain. It was the first time this season that Semrau did not have her starting unit intact.
"With Christian out, I asked Lex (Deluzio) to see where she could step up in her leadership and I think you saw what she was able to do," Semrau said. "Not only did she shoot the ball well, she defended … she rebounded the ball, she distributed it well."
UF 74, NO. 22 GEORGIA 71: Jaterra Bonds had 22 points, Jordan Jones added 18 and the host Gators (17-13, 7-9 SEC) closed the regular season with a three-game winning streak and handed the Bulldogs (20-9, 10-6) their third straight loss.
NO. 12 MIAMI 70, GA. TECH 59: Rijuna Williams had 32 points for the visiting Hurricanes (26-3, 12-2 ACC), who closed the regular season with their sixth straight victory. Williams, a junior guard who went in averaging 21.3 points, made 4 of 6 3-pointers.
Top 25
NO. 3 BAYLOR 82, NO. 16 OKLA. 81: Odyssey Sims matched a school record with nine 3-pointers and had 37 points, including the go-ahead basket in the closing seconds that lifted the visiting Bears (26-2, 13-1 Big 12). The Sooners (19-9, 9-5) fell to 0-6 against top-10 foes this season.
NO. 4 TENN. 80, LSU 60: Angie Bjorklund had 17 points for the host Volunteers (28-2, 16-0), who completed their ninth undefeated run through SEC play.
NO. 5 TEXAS A&M 68, TEXAS 65: Danielle Adams had 26 points for the visiting Aggies (24-3, 12-2 Big 12), who held on after holding the Longhorns to 17 first-half points and beat their instate rivals for the 10th straight time.
NO. 6 XAVIER 73, TEMPLE 66: Amber Harris had 26 points and 12 rebounds for the visiting Musketeers (25-2, 14-0), who clinched the top seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament and became the first school to finish unbeaten in A-10 play for consecutive years.
NO. 9 DUKE 66, NO. 13 UNC 58: Jasmine Thomas had 17 points as the host Blue Devils (26-3, 12-2) beat the Tar Heels (22-7, 8-6), to clinch the top seed in the ACC tournament.
NO. 10 MICH. ST. 65, MINNESOTA 51: Kalisha Keane had 19 points for the visiting Spartans (25-4, 13-3 Big Ten), who erased a 12-point second-half deficit with a 13-0 run.
NO. 15 MARYLAND 78, BC 69: Alyssa Thomas had 17 points and nine rebounds, Kim Rodgers had 16 points and the visiting Terrapins (23-6, 9-5 ACC) made up for 42.4 percent shooting with strong defense.
NO. 20 KENTUCKY 76, AUBURN 62: Victoria Dunlap had 19 points for the visiting Wildcats (22-7, 11-5 SEC), who pulled away with two big second-half runs.
NO. 21 MARIST 60, FAIRFIELD 45: Kate Oliver had 19 points for the host Red Foxes (27-2, 18-0 MAAC), who won their school-record 23rd straight game and became the second team in league history to finish unbeaten in conference play since it went to an 18-game schedule.