DURHAM, N.C. — Florida State’s three-game winning streak came to an end Sunday at the hands of Haley Gorecki-led Duke, 66-64 on the road at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Gorecki capped her game-high 21-point performance, fittingly, by draining two free throws with three seconds remaining. Nicki Ekhomu’s desperation 3-pointer was off the mark as the 14th-ranked Seminoles (20-5, 9-5) lost their hold on sole possession of third place in the ACC.
“It’s a great basketball game,” head coach Sue Semrau said. “We didn’t rebound the ball very well and I thought that was the biggest thing that hurt us.”
The Noles rallied from a nine-point, fourth quarter deficit with an 11-0 run, fueled by Ekhomu. Her 3-pointer with 2:37 remaining gave the Noles their final lead at 60-58. The senior guard’s team-high 19-point performance included a pair free throws and a layup, twice tying the game in the final 1:22.
Gorecki, whose 16 free throw attempts were a season high by an opposing player, calmly drained her final two to finish off a 14-of-16 day from the line. Duke was 17-of-20 from the line, outscoring the Noles (7-of-9) by 10 points in an otherwise evenly played contest.
By extending its winning streak to an ACC-best four games, the Blue Devils (15-10, 9-5) moved into at least a share of third place in the conference standings.
In addition to Ekhomu’s 10 fourth-quarter points, Sammie Puisis added a pair of huge 3-pointers to aid the big rally.
Nausia Woolfolk recorded her fourth career double-double and third of the season, finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while freshman River Baldwin added 10 points off the bench. Senior Kiah Gillespie, who had averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds over the past three games, finished with seven points and two boards.
Leaonna Odom scored 18 points and Jade Williams added 10 for the Blue Devils, who ended a streak of 13 consecutive losses to a nationally ranked opponent.
The Seminoles return to action Thursday at home against Wake Forest (7 p.m.).
