TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Imani Wright sank a school record eight 3-pointers and finished with a career-best 33 points to propel No. 13 Florida State to a 103-65 win over North Carolina in an Atlantic Coast Conference opener Sunday.
Wright missed just four of her 12 shots from behind the arc and finished with 11-for-18 shooting overall as Florida State (13-1) dominated from long range, sinking 10 of 20 while holding North Carolina to just 1 for 13.
Shakayla Thomas added 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, Nicki Ekhomu had 19 points and Nausia Woolfolk got 13 for the Seminoles, who also controlled the glass 47-22.
After a tight first quarter, Florida State opened the second quarter with an 18-3 run to make it 41-24 and took a 57-36 advantage into the halftime break. Wright had three 3-pointers during the breakaway run and Ekhomu had one.
Janelle Bailey and Paris Kea led North Carolina (10-4) with 17 points apiece and Jamie Cherry added 10 points.
POST-GAME NOTES
• Redshirt senior guard Imani Wright’s 33 points tie for the 14th-most in a single game in program history. Her career-high effort surpasses the 26 she put up at Iowa on Nov. 29 this season.
• Wright’s eight 3-point field goals made surpasses the school record of seven previously held by four different players, including herself (she had seven 3-balls at Iowa).
• Senior Shakayla Thomas’ double-double effort was the 14th of her illustrious FSU career. Her 10 made field goals mark the sixth time this season she has made 10+ baskets and the 14th time in her career.
• Florida State’s 38-point win over North Carolina is its largest margin of victory in the series. UNC’s last visit to FSU on Feb. 14, 2016, resulted in a 31-point win for the Seminoles (94-63).
• The Seminoles hung 58 points on the Tar Heels in the first half. It was their second-most points in a half vs. an ACC opponent, only surpassed by the 59 second-half points it recorded vs. Wake Forest in 2015.
• FSU recorded 100+ points for the 31st time in program history, the fifth time vs. an ACC opponent and the third time this season. It is only the third time the Seminoles have recorded three or more 100+ point games in a season.
• Guided by Wright’s eight 3-pointers, FSU recorded 10 from beyond the arc – the 17th time it has recorded 10 or more.
• FSU established season highs on Sunday for free throws made (21) and 3-point field goal percentage (50 percent).
