Host FSU run over by Buffalo
TALLAHASSEE — Cierra Dillard scored 22 points and 11th-seeded Buffalo shocked No. 3 seed Florida State 86-65 on Monday night to advance to the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
The Bulls, who were one of the last four to earn an at-large berth in the 64-team field, shot 47.4 percent from the field and went 24-of-26 from the foul line. They also held the Seminoles to 3-of-25 on 3-pointers and 33.8 percent from the field.
Buffalo (29-5) won’t have far to go for the regional semifinal because it will face defending champion and second-seeded South Carolina on Saturday in Albany, N.Y.
It is the first time in eight games that Florida State (26-7) has dropped an NCAA Tournament contest when it has been the host.
The Seminoles were hoping to make their fourth straight Sweet 16 performance but were unable to control the pace of the game. Imani Wright, who came into the game with 103 3-pointers this season, was 0-of-10 from beyond the arc.
Buffalo seized control late in the first half. The game was tied at 28 with 2:05 remaining when the Bulls closed the half with a 10-2 run, including eight straight points by Dillard, to take a 39-30 lead at halftime.
The Bulls extended the lead to 14 with a 7-2 run to start the third quarter. They led by as many as 14 early in the fourth quarter.
Stephanie Reid scored 18 points and Summer Hemphill added 17 for Buffalo, which is unbeaten this season in the 25 games it has led at halftime.
Shakayla Thomas led Florida State with 25 points in her final game and Nausia Woolfolk added 12.
Two days after getting their first NCAA Tournament win over South Florida, the Bulls are the first MAC team since Bowling Green in 2007 to advance to the Sweet 16. They were joined moments later by MAC rival Central Michigan, which knocked off Ohio State also as an 11-seed.
Leaonna Odom scored 16 points and fifth seed Duke’s defense was dominant, holding fourth seed and host Georgia to two second-quarter points in a 66-40 secondround win on Monday night.
Lexie Brown and Erin Mathias each had 14 points for Duke (24-8), which will play UConn in the Albany Regional on Saturday. Topseeded UConn beat in-state neighbor Quinnipiac 71-46 to advance to a 25th straight Sweet 16.
Georgia (26-7) made only 1 of 19 shots in the second period. The Lady Bulldogs set season lows for fewest points in a period and game and lowest field-goal percentage (24.0) in a game.
The Lady Bulldogs missed their first 13 3-pointers before Simone Costa sank a 3 midway through the final period.
The shooting woes even carried over to the freethrow line, where the Lady Bulldogs made only 7 of 14 shots.
While Georgia struggled, Duke shot 50 percent from the field to overcome 21 turnovers.
Caliya Robinson led Georgia with 11 points and 12 rebounds. No other Georgia player had more than five points.
Georgia missed its first 13 shots of the second period. Que Morrison ended the drought, but not the scoring problems, with her layup at 2:34 before halftime.