Florida State women’s basketball welcomes in Arkansas in ‘season of different challenges’

Florida State women’s basketball has not strayed away from a challenge this season. In fact, it has wanted to face tough competition.

Week 1 of the season started off at home against No. 11 Tennessee then a week later the Seminoles were down the road at Florida.

This past weekend they were out in Las Vegas playing in the Ball Dawgs Classic against Big 10 Northwestern and No. 4 Stanford.

Through all of these marquee games, and then some, FSU has come out with a 5-1 record, with its lone loss to the Cardinal, 100-88. Despite the loss, the Seminoles are taking more good than bad away from the finish, realizing they are a team that can hang with the best in the country.

The game was close throughout until Stanford pulled away off a handful of big shots in the fourth quarter.

“We learned that we are right there with them,” guard O’Mariah Gordon said. “We’re a competitor. When we get to the tournament, we for sure can be an Elite Eight team. We have the potential, but we also learned that we need to improve on like transition defense and communication.”

“That’s what we’ve been working on in practice even though Arkansas doesn’t play like that. We’re still learning from our mistakes from Stanford, but taking the positives away too. Let’s continue to do what we do well, but learn from our mistakes.”

Back home in Tallahassee

WATCH: Florida State women’s basketball guard O’Mariah Gordon on Arkansas

Florida State women’s basketball guard O’Mariah Gordon speaks to media ahead of the Seminoles game against Arkansas on Nov. 28, 2023.

Tallahassee Democrat

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It’s been a quick transition from the Thanksgiving Tournament back home as the Seminoles host Arkansas on Thursday at 7 p.m., at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge.

Head coach Brooke Wyckoff said she like the pace of the way things are moving in the gap between the Stanford game to Thursday’s game as been perfect in recollecting thoughts and moving on.

“It’s been ideal that we’ve had time to recover emotionally and mentally from the week in Vegas from the game, the time change and all those things,” Wyckoff said. “We have a good three days of practice to prepare for a really tough Arkansas team. I love the rhythm of it and another great challenge ahead of us.

“I feel like we’re in a really great spot.”

Defending ACC Rookie of the Year Ta’Niya Latson counties to charge up the offense, averaging 18.6 points per game, but one of the biggest impacts has come from Gordon early on. She was battling an injury throughout last season but has since recovered and playing a dominant role for the Seminoles.

She’s averaging 16.3 points per game, second behind Latson in scoring. Gordon is coming off a 19-point performance against Stanford.

“It feels good to start ahead and not play catch-up,” Gordon said. “I’ve been doing pretty good, but I feel like it started with my leadership and having to learn a different year. In my freshman year, I started and I learned that role. My sophomore year I didn’t. I learned different roles and it prepared me for the time I’m in right now.”

Preparing for heavy shooting Arkansas team

The Razorbacks are very similar to FSU, sitting at 5-1 on the year with their lone loss to No. 23 Marquette. Arkansas is a team that has proven it’s not afraid to shoot from the perimeter, averaging 30 3-point attempts per game, which ranks sixth nationally.

It has also gotten a big lift from its freshman McDonald’s All-American and Orange Park, Florida native Taliah Scott, who is averaging 23.1 points per game, which included a career-high 34 points against Arkansas State.

“They play fast and score a lot of points,” Wyckoff said. “All five of the players on the floor can shoot the three and will shoot the three, and they’ve got a really, really good freshman in Taliah Scott. She’s a phenomenal talent. We’re familiar with their style. They’re very similar to us.”

Up next

Who: No. 15 FSU (5-1) vs. Arkansas (6-1)

When/where: 7 p.m., on Thursday, Donald L. Tucker Civic Center

TV: ESPN2

Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @jackgwilliams.