With this triumph, Florida State improved to a record of 20-6, including 10-4 in the ACC, while also ending a two-game losing streak. The Seminoles are now just one game behind Louisville and North Carolina, who are tied for fourth place in the conference standings. Conversely, Miami fell to 13-12 overall and 3-11 in conference play, marking their fourth consecutive defeat, all against ranked teams.
The game saw Miami take a commanding 78-76 lead when Haley Cavinder executed a layup with 1:25 remaining. However, a crucial foul on Cavinder allowed O’Mariah Gordon to sink two free throws, tying the game with one minute left. Miami regained the lead when Natalija Marshall scored another layup with just 18 seconds on the clock. A quick response from Gordon saw her hit a jumper, draw a foul, and complete a three-point play, bringing Florida State ahead 81-80. Cavinder was then fouled during the in-bounds pass and converted two free throws, giving Miami a one-point advantage before Gordon assisted Timpson’s pivotal game-winning layup.
Gordon had an impressive performance, scoring a career-high 34 points on 14 of 22 shooting, and also contributed seven assists to her team’s success. Timpson added a significant 22 points and pulled down nine rebounds, while Sydney Bowles chipped in with 14 points. Florida State shot an effective 50.8% from the field, making 33 of their 65 attempts.
On the opposing side, Cavinder was a standout for Miami, connecting on 4 of 8 from three-point range for a total of 27 points, alongside eight rebounds and seven assists. Jasmyne Roberts and Marshall made notable contributions, scoring 16 and 15 points, respectively, while Cameron Williams added 12 points. The Hurricanes had a solid shooting night as well, recording a 53.4% field goal percentage by hitting 31 of 58 attempts.
Looking ahead, the Seminoles will host the Pittsburgh Panthers on Thursday, followed by a challenging finish to the regular season with three matchups against ranked teams: No. 19 Georgia Tech, No. 2 Notre Dame, and No. 13 Duke. Meanwhile, Miami will also face a tough opponent, welcoming Notre Dame to their home court on Thursday.
