TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Leticia Romero scored 21 points and No. 7 Florida State beat No. 23 Florida 83-58 on Thursday night for its eighth straight victory.
Shakayla Thomas added 16 points for the Seminoles (9-1), and Ivey Slaughter had 13 points and 10 rebounds for her 20th career double-double. Florida State has won four of its last five meetings in the in-state rivalry.
Ronni Williams led the Gators (6-3) with 20 points. It was Florida's second loss to a ranked team in five days, with both coming on the road.
A big key to Florida State's win was rebounding as it enjoyed a 45-35 edge on the glass and a 19-2 advantage in second-chance points.
The 25-point win is the fourth-largest margin that the Seminoles have defeated the Gators.
POST-GAME NOTES BY FSU SPORTS INFORMATION:
• Over FSU’s last three home games vs. Florida, it has combined to outscore the Gators 258-176. FSU’s 98-67 win in 2012 is the second-largest margin of victory for the Seminoles in the series. Its 77-51 win in 2014 is the third-largest, and Thursday’s 83-58 win is the fourth-largest.
• The Seminoles have defeated the Gators 10 times in the last 14 meetings, including six of the last eight meetings.
• FSU moves to 24-3 against Sunshine State opponents since the 2012-13 season.
• The AP Top 25 win for FSU was its second of the season, already matching last year’s regular season total. It was head coach Sue Semrau’s 34th AP Top 25 win and the program’s 47th, including its 33rd at home.
• Senior forward Ivey Slaughter totaled 13 points and 10 rebounds, her second double-double of the season and the 20th of her career. The Macon, Ga., native is now in sole possession of eighth on the FSU career double-double list.
• Slaughter added a career-high tying six steals, the second time she has reached that number.
• Senior guard Leticia Romero produced 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting along with four assists, three steals, six boards and just two turnovers. It is her fourth career 20-point game, but the second of the season. It is the first time she has recorded multiple 20-point games in a season.
• Senior guard Brittany Brown finished with seven assists to five turnovers after ending the first half with one assist to four turnovers. She added 13 points and collected five steals, giving her 260 for her career.
• FSU finished with five double-figure performers, a season high. They included Romero (21), junior forward Shakayla Thomas (16), Slaughter (13), Brown (13) and redshirt junior guard Imani Wright (12).
• Entering the game eighth nationally with 138 free throws made, FSU went 23-of-32 from the charity stripe (71.9 percent). The Seminoles came in 11th in the country in free throw attempts.
• The Seminoles damaged UF in two major areas on Thursday: second-chance points (19-2) and points off turnovers (25-12).
• FSU’s strong defensive play forced the Gators into 27 turnovers compared to 10 assists.
• The ACC is now 4-2 this season against ranked SEC teams.
• 42 combined personal fouls and 45 turnovers highlighted what was a very physical game.
