JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Shakayla Thomas scored 23 points for her 17th career 20-point game, and No. 18 Florida State used a 20-0 third quarter to beat Jacksonville State 75-51 on Sunday.
Jacksonville State’s second-half scoring drought ended at 12 minutes, 59 seconds.
Nicki Ekhomu added 14 points and eight rebounds, and AJ Alix had 13 points and seven assists for Florida State (2-0), which is coming off its fourth-highest scoring game (109) in program history.
“We made some adjustments at halftime,” FSU head coach Sue Semrau said after the game. “Having them execute those adjustments was huge. Jacksonville State was shooting contested jumpers in the second half and we rebounded the ball very well.”
The Seminoles have only lost twice in their last 12 road openers.
Gretchen Morrison made six 3-pointers and scored 20 points for Jacksonville State (1-1), which was held to 29 percent shooting and turned it over 17 times.
JSU made nine of 16 3-pointers in the first half to stay within 38-35 of Florida State. The Seminoles were just 1 of 8 from distance in the half but still made 52 percent of their field goals.
POST-GAME NOTES:
• Thomas took over sole possession of 10th place on the FSU all-time scoring list. She surpassed the late Alicia “Ice” Gladden, and now has 1,424 career points.
• Thomas’ 23 points marks her 17th career 20-point game.
• Florida State out-scored Jacksonville State 20-0 in the third quarter, the first time FSU has not allowed a point in a single quarter since the current format began in the 2015-16 season.
• Redshirt senior guard AJ Alix recorded seven assists to go along with her 13 points. She did not record a turnover.
• Nearly 13 minutes of action proved to be the game changer. Florida State’s defense held Jacksonville State with any points for 12 minutes, 59 seconds – a span that lasted with 52 seconds left in the second quarter to the early part of the fourth.
• After going 8-of-12 from downtown in the first half, JSU went just 2-of-15 in the second half.
• For the second straight game, Nicki Ekhomu led FSU in rebounding with eight boards. The sophomore is proving to be one of the country’s most capable rebounding guards.
• Florida State is now 10-2 in its last 12 road openers.
• The Seminoles are 27-8 over their last 35 games since the start of the 2014-15 season.
