TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Shakayla Thomas scored 10 of her 17 points during the decisive first quarter, and No. 7 Florida State cruised to a 77-58 victory over Syracuse on Thursday night.
The Seminoles (18-2, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) hit 11 of their first 14 from the field, including nine straight during one stretch, as they built a 26-5 lead with 2:35 remaining in the first quarter. The Orange (13-7, 4-3) made their first two shots and then missed their next 10 as FSU went on an 18-0 run.
Leticia Romero added 12 points and Imani Wright 11 for the Seminoles, who led 72-39 early in the fourth quarter.
Alexis Peterson, who leads the ACC in scoring, had a game-high 26 points for Syracuse, with 21 coming in the second half.
POST-GAME NOTES BY FSU SPORTS INFORMATION:
· Florida State assisted on 75.8 percent of its made field goals (22 assists on 29 baskets), its highest assist percentage of the season.
· FSU’s win continues its current lead in the ACC standings at 6-1 in conference play. Notre Dame trails in second place at 5-1.
· The Seminoles’ 18-2 overall record ties for the best 20-game start in school history with the 2014-15 squad and the 2004-05 team.
· Junior forward Shakayla Thomas led FSU with 17 points (7-of-11), leading the team in scoring for the eighth time this season and 30th time in her career. Thomas recorded her 500th career made field goal in the game, making her the seventh-fastest player in FSU history to reach that feat (89 games).
· Through 20 games played, FSU has not let an opponent shoot 50 percent or better. Syracuse shot 38.2 percent for the contest.
· Florida State raced out to a 26-7 first-period lead, creating a 54-11 first-period advantage over the last two games. FSU led 45-20 at halftime, marking a 92-34 halftime advantage over the last two games.
· Four Seminoles finished in double figures including Thomas (17), Romero (12), Imani Wright (11) and Ivey Slaughter (10). FSU has had four or more players in double figures in 14 games this season.
· FSU finished the game shooting 53.7 percent (29-of-54) from the floor, its best shooting game in ACC play this season.
· Romero’s eight assists were a season high.
· Brittany Brown added to her all-time steals lead with five, giving her 286 for her career. Brown has cracked the ACC’s Top 25 career steals list, tying former players Ramona O’Neal (Clemson, 1986-89) and Andrea Stinson (NC State, 1989-91) for 24th.
· Brown also led all players on Thursday with nine rebounds.
· In 17 minutes off the bench, freshman Nicki Ekhomu contributed with eight points.
