Fourth-Quarter Collapse Dooms Virginia Again in 77-68 Loss to Florida State

For the second time within the final three video games, the Cavaliers had an opponent on the ropes, main by double digits within the fourth quarter. And for the second time within the final three video games, UVA surrendered a large run within the fourth quarter and watched that lead step by step disappear. 

The UVA ladies’s basketball crew led Florida State by as many as 13 factors, however an 18-0 FSU run, aided partly by some favorable officiating, led to Virginia (14-5, 3-5 ACC) struggling a irritating 77-68 loss to Florida State (17-4, 6-2 ACC) on Thursday night time at John Paul Jones Area. 

The Seminoles bought on the board simply eight seconds into the sport on a jumper by Makayla Timpson, however the Cavaliers responded by scoring the following six factors. 4 of these paints got here off of layups by Camryn Taylor, who has taken over as Virginia’s major scorer for the reason that damage to Mir McLean. Sadly for UVA, Taylor then picked up two fast fouls and was pulled from the sport lower than three minutes in and would sit for the remainder of the primary half. 

Florida State, which introduced within the ACC’s No. 1 scoring offense at 86.9 factors per sport, did not keep quiet for lengthy. The Seminoles went on a 10-0 run over a two and a half minute stretch to seize a four-point lead behind 4 factors every from Timpson and Taylor O’Brien. 

On the finish of the opening quarter, Virginia made a giant play to slim the deficit. Carole Miller blocked Mariana Valenzuela’s three-pointer after which Yonta Vaughn took the ball down the ground and knocked down a three-pointer simply because the buzzer expired to make it 17-16 Florida State on the finish of the primary. 

The second quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with neither crew main by greater than three factors within the interval. Again-to-back three-pointers from Sam Brunelle and Yonta Vaughn put the Cavaliers again in entrance, however the Seminoles answered proper again. Florida State’s freshman sensation Ta’Niya Latson, the ACC’s main scorer at 24.3 factors per sport, wakened after scoring simply two factors within the first quarter and scored seven within the second. 

Virginia hit 4 threes within the second quarter and 6 within the first half, together with a triple from McKenna Dale that gave UVA the lead within the closing minute, however Taylor O’Brien knocked down a few free throws to offer the Seminoles a 38-37 lead at halftime. Yonta Vaughn and London Clarkson paced the Cavaliers with 9 factors within the first half, whereas Latson matched them with 9 of her personal. 

The third quarter has been a giant one for Virginia all season and Thursday night time was no exception. After sitting out the ultimate 17 minutes of the primary half, Camryn Taylor got here again into the sport and was dominant, tallying ten factors on 5/9 taking pictures to associate with 4 rebounds. Taylor’s manufacturing sparked the offense and UVA additionally got here to play as a crew on the defensive finish, holding the Seminoles and not using a discipline objective for greater than eight minutes. 

A hook shot from Latson made it 44-39 in favor of FSU on the 8:15 mark of the third, however Florida wouldn’t make one other shot till simply 9 seconds remaining within the interval. Virginia went on a 15-1 run, capped by a private 5-0 run for Sam Brunelle to offer the Cavaliers a commanding 60-47 lead. O’Mariah Gordon ended the UVA run and Florida State’s discipline objective drought with a three-pointer late within the third, however Virginia nonetheless took a ten-point lead into the ultimate body. The Seminoles made simply three of their 17 pictures within the quarter, whereas the Cavaliers made 10 of their 18 discipline objective makes an attempt to outscore FSU 23-12 within the interval, turning a 38-37 halftime deficit right into a 60-50 lead getting into the fourth quarter. 

Per week in the past, it was a 22-2 run within the fourth quarter that allowed No. 22 North Carolina to avert Virginia’s upset bid because the Tar Heels got here from behind to beat UVA 70-59. In that sport, UNC outscored UVA 28-8 within the fourth interval. In a frustratingly comparable final result, Florida State outscored Virginia 27-8 within the fourth quarter of this sport. Within the loss to UNC, the Tar Heels weren’t known as for a single foul within the fourth quarter. One-sided officiating performed the same function in Florida State’s come-from-behind effort. Florida State tried 12 free throws within the fourth quarter, making 10 of them, as in comparison with simply 4 free throw makes an attempt for Virginia. For your complete sport, the Seminoles tried 29 free throws to simply eight for the Cavaliers. 

The Hoos actually performed an element in their very own demise. The UVA protection allowed the Seminoles to constantly produce open three-point seems within the zone set and when Virginia switched again to a man-to-man protection, Florida State was capable of get downhill and to the rim at will. Offensively, Virginia made simply 2/16 discipline objective makes an attempt within the fourth quarter and went almost six minutes with out scoring, too steadily settling for poor shot choice. 

FSU went on a 9-0 run behind a pair of layups by Makayla Timpson and a three-pointer from Gordon lower than two minutes into the fourth quarter to get again inside three factors. One other turnaround jumper from Timpson bought the Noles inside one after which Valencia Myers gave Florida State the lead with a pair of free throws. Virginia was whistled for an offensive foul and Sara Bejedi took benefit with a three-pointer on the opposite finish. UVA was known as for an additional offensive foul on the following possession as Sam Brunelle was whistled for a highly-questionable cost. Bejedi as soon as once more took benefit with a mid-range jumper to place the Seminoles forward 68-62. All advised, Florida State went on an 18-0 run to show a 12-point deficit right into a six-point lead. 

Then got here probably the most controversial name of the season. Sam Brunelle set a display on Sara Bejedi and the collision despatched Bejedi to the ground at Brunelle’s toes. With Brunelle’s proper ankle in between Bejedi’s legs, Bejedi clamped her knees collectively, stopping Brunelle from with the ability to take away her foot. In frustration, Brunelle eliminated her foot after which kicked Bejedi in between the legs whereas she was nonetheless on the bottom. The refs instantly known as a double-technical on Brunelle and Bejedi. After reviewing the play for a number of minutes, the officers confirmed the technical foul on Bejedi and assessed a flagrant 2 foul on Brunelle for “combating”, leading to an ejection for Brunelle. A refrain of boos rang down from the JPJ crowd, which then gave a standing ovation to Brunelle as she exited the ground. 

McKenna Dale knocked down each of the technical free throws to finish UVA’s scoring drought, however the harm was achieved. The Cavaliers by no means absolutely recovered their composure and Florida State held on for the 77-68 win. 

Sara Bejedi ended up scoring 12 factors within the fourth quarter to gas FSU’s comeback and completed tied with Ta’Niya Latson with 15 factors every to guide the Seminoles in scoring. Makayla Timpson added 14 factors and 10 rebounds. 

The sport’s main scorer was Camryn Taylor, who had an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double regardless of enjoying simply 21 minutes. Brunelle and London Clarkson joined Taylor in double figures with 11 factors every. 

Had the 2 fourth-quarter meltdowns towards Florida State and North Carolina performed out slightly in a different way, Virginia could possibly be on a three-game profitable streak proper now. As an alternative, the Cavaliers have misplaced 4 of their final 5 video games and so they’ll have little time to recuperate earlier than touring to South Bend to tackle No. 7 Notre Dame on Sunday at 2pm. 

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