TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida State coach Sue Semrau was worried before Thursday night's game against Pittsburgh that her team might be looking ahead to Sunday's showdown at Notre Dame.
Those worries lasted less than three minutes.
After the Panthers scored the first four points, the eighth-ranked Seminoles scored the next 10 and kept extending their lead from there as they rolled to a 79-48 victory.
Florida State, which led by as many 34 late in the fourth quarter, goes into Sunday's regular-season finale against needing a win against the fifth-ranked Fighting Irish to secure a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title and the top seed in the ACC Tournament.
"They did a great job of limiting distractions. They stayed focus and were able to jump out to the lead early," Semrau said. "Now we have to go and have that same type of focus on Sunday."
All five starters scored in double figures for Florida State (25-4, 13-2). Brittany Brown and Chatrice White led the way with 13 points each while Leticia Romero and Imani Wright both scored 12. Ivey Slaughter had 10.
"They are too physical of a team and we were unable to match up," Pitt coach Susie McConnell-Serio said. "They made plays. For a young team you need to have success early and we didn't."
Brenna Wise scored 23 points for the Panthers (13-15, 4-11). They have dropped seven of eight.
POST-GAME NOTES FROM FSU SPORTS INFORMATION:
• Florida State’s senior five-member senior class of Gabby Bevillard, Brittany Brown, Kai James, Leticia Romero and Ivey Slaughter were honored prior to the game. Each received a framed jersey, including Bevillard who was presented with a framed pink jersey from her memorable performance two years ago.
• The senior class improves to 103-29 (.780), and also recorded its 50th win against ACC competition.
• The senior-led win gives the class an undefeated record against four ACC opponents: Pitt (4-0), Clemson (7-0), Boston College (4-0) and Virginia Tech (5-0).
• FSU’s win coupled with league leader Notre Dame’s 82-45 win over Boston College sets up a meeting between the two teams on Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN2 in Notre Dame, Ind.
• Slaughter’s 10 points marks her 66th double-figure game of her career. Brown’s 13 is her 52nd double-figure game of her career.
• Romero finished 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, her most 3-point field goals in a game since also going 4-of-7 vs. NC State on Jan. 2.
• Brown finished with five assists compared to just three turnovers, her 64th game with a positive A/T ratio and her 21st this season.
• Redshirt junior Imani Wright added 12 points. She became the sixth Seminole to record 60 or more 3-point field goals made in a season.
• FSU’s nine 3-point field goals made is an ACC high.
• The Seminoles assisted on 20 of their 26 made field goals (76.9 percent).
• FSU is now 13-2 in ACC play, its third straight year of reaching at least 13 conference wins (14-2 in 2014-15; 13-3 in 2015-16).
• The Seminoles have now won five consecutive Senior Games and 10 of their past 13.
• FSU’s 25 regular-season wins is tied for the second-most in school history. The record is 27 regular-season victories in 2014-15.
