Seminole Sunday Sauce — Dec. 1, 2024: FSU Women’s Basketball Rolls to Paradise Jam Title
With three wins in three days, Florida State women’s basketball was crowned champions of the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The closest contest of the trip came on Thursday night as the Seminoles celebrated Thanksgiving with a 70-62 win over previously undefeated Texas Tech. FSU led 16-5 after a quarter but the Red Raiders drew to within one in the final period.
The Seminoles responded with a 6-0 run to create the breathing room needed to secure the win. Ta’Niya Latson led the Seminoles with 30 points, 11 rebounds and five steals. O’Mariah Gordon added 20 points.
FSU closed its stay with two blowouts. In Friday night’s 97-66 win over Missouri State, Latson led the way with 21 points and five assists. Makayla Timpson added 18 points and 12 rebounds. Sydney Bowles and Mariana Valenzuela finished with 16 and 14 points, respectively.
The Seminoles secured the Paradise Jam title with a 95-54 win over Gonzaga on Saturday night. Latson became just the fourth player in program history to record a triple-double, finishing with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Timpson scored 20 points. Bowles and Gordon finished with 17 and 14 points, respectively, in the victory.
With the 3-0 finish at the Paradise Jam, FSU has now won seven straight games and is 8-1 for the season. The Seminoles will visit Tennessee in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Wednesday night.
FOOTBALL
Record: 2-10 (1-7 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (0-1), lost to Florida on Saturday, 31-11
Recognitions: Alex Mastromanno, P (Ray Guy Award finalist); Ryan Fitzgerald, K (Lou Groza Award finalist)
Commitments: Jordan Scott, 3-star WR* (No. 25 JUCO*)
Decommitments: Byron Louis, 4-star RB* (No. 231 overall*)
2025 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 38 nationally, seventh in ACC (13 total commitments)
Wrap-up: FSU’s nightmare season came to a merciful ending on Saturday. UCF head coach Gus Malzahn has been hired as offensive coordinator.
Soccer
Record: 15-2-4
Ranking: No. 6 United Soccer Coaches; No. 1 seed NCAA Tournament
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU’s offseason came sooner than expected.
Volleyball
Record: 21-9 (13-7 ACC)
Ranking: No. 21 AVCA Coaches Poll
Past Week: (2-1), beat Clemson on Sunday, 3-2; lost to SMU on Wednesday, 3-0; beat Wake Forest on Friday, 3-1
Upcoming: vs. TBA (NCAA Tournament)
Recognitions: Khori Louis, MB (ACC Offensive Player of the Week)
Wrap-up: After a winning week, FSU finishes the regular season in sixth place in the ACC.
Cross Country
Ranking: Men No. 4 USTFCCCA South Regional; women No. 24 USTFCCCA, No. 3 USTFCCCA South Regional
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU’s cross country season is over. Track and field will begin in January.
Swimming and Diving
Ranking: Men No. 24 CSCAA
Past Week: Men finished second, women third at Georgia Tech Invitational
Upcoming: at SMU (Jan. 17)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: After a strong showing in Atlanta, FSU won’t hit the pool again until mid-January.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Record: 7-1
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (2-0), beat Massachusetts on Sunday in Naismith Hall of Fame Tip-Off, 92-59; beat Western Kentucky on Tuesday, 91-57
Upcoming: at LSU (Tuesday, ACC/SEC Challenge); at NC State (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2025 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 88 nationally, 14th in ACC (2 total commitments)
Wrap-up: At 7-1, FSU is off to its best start in five years.
WomEN’S BASKETBALL
Record: 8-1
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (3-0), beat Texas Tech in Paradise Jam on Thursday, 70-62; beat Missouri State in Paradise Jam on Friday, 97-66; defeated Gonzaga in Paradise Jam on Saturday, 95-54
Upcoming: at Tennessee (Wednesday, ACC/SEC Challenge)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU blew through the competition this week in the Virgin Islands.
*Recruiting rankings according to the 247Sports Composite rankings
- Mike Ferguson is the lead writer for Double Fries No Slaw. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. For all of his work, “Like” or “Follow” Mike on Facebook.
