University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Florida State (NCAA Tournament)
Spiders Fall To Florida State In first Round Of NCAA Tourney, 87-54
03/20/2005 | Women's Basketball
March 20, 2005
By TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer
STORRS, Conn. (AP) - A 15-day layoff didn't hurt Florida State in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Ganiyat Adeduntan had 19 points to lead five starters in double figures and the Seminoles hit nine 3-pointers and shot 56 percent from the field in an 87-54 win over Richmond on Sunday.
Sixth-seeded Florida State (24-7) advanced to a Tuesday game with host and three-time defending national champion Connecticut, who beat Dartmouth 95-47 earlier Sunday.
Connecticut (24-7) has beaten Florida State in each of the last two seasons, including 81-53 here last year.
However, those wins were with Diana Taurasi in the lineup, and this group of Seminoles has enough athleticism and talent to cause problems for the defending national champions.
Saona Chapman had 12 points to lead Richmond, which was making its third NCAA tournament appearance, and its first since 1991. The Spiders have yet to win a game in the tournament. The 87 points were the most they allowed this season.
Roneeka Hodges and Alicia Gladden added 18 points apiece for the Seminoles, while Holly Johnson had 11 and Linnea Liljestrand 10.
Florida State, which had not played since losing in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament on March 5, was on from the start. The Seminoles hit nine of their first 13 shots, including 5-of-7 3-pointers in jumping to a 25-5 lead.
After Chapman hit a jumper to give Richmond a 5-4 lead, the Seminoles scored the next 21 points. Hodges ignited the run with a 3-pointer and before the run was over, Johnson hit two more and Liljestand made another. LaQuinta Neely capped the run with an old-fashioned three-point play.
Florida State were 9-for-14 from 3-point range and shot 56.3 percent from the field.
Kelly Roche added 11 points and Araceli Gil had 10 for Richmond, which beat Florida State 84-77 in the WNIT last year. Flavin and Chapman scored 26 points apiece in that game.
