Florida State Dominates George Mason in NCAA Tournament Opening Round

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Ta’Niya Latson scored 28 points as sixth-seeded Florida State defeated No. 11 George Mason, 94-59, on Saturday night in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament.

Florida State, now with a record of 24-8, will advance to face No. 3 seed LSU on Monday. The Seminoles secured their win with a dominant performance, particularly in the latter quarters. Mikayla Timpson contributed significantly with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Latson, the nation’s leading scorer, showcased her skills effectively after returning from injury. “I felt good during practice — got my groove back from injury,” said Latson, who shot 8-of-16 from the field and went 11-of-14 from the free-throw line. “That was something I wanted to harp on, being good in practice so it can translate into the game.”

George Mason (27-6) was competing in its first NCAA Tournament after winning the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Paula Suarez led the Patriots with 25 points, while Kennedy Harris added 12 points.

The game started strongly for Florida State, leading by as many as 20 points in the second quarter before George Mason rallied back to narrow the margin to seven points in the third. After a timeout called by Florida State head coach Brooke Wyckoff, the Seminoles regrouped and responded with a 10-0 run.

“We needed to turn up the intensity defensively,” Wyckoff said. “When we do that, our defense leads to our offense. That’s what sparks those runs.”

A fast-break layup and an ensuing three-pointer from O’Mariah Gordon were pivotal in regaining momentum for the Seminoles. Despite George Mason’s efforts to remain competitive, Florida State extended their lead, including a decisive 12-0 run to start the fourth quarter.

Wyckoff praised her team’s execution, particularly down the stretch, stating, “This team knew what they had to do to finish this game and they did it really well.”

Florida State’s victory marks their 12th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament and was particularly significant for Wyckoff, who noted this as her first tournament win since assuming the head coaching role permanently.

“Feels great,” Wyckoff said. “But I just credit this team … with the work they put in all season.”

George Mason’s coach, Vanessa Blair-Lewis, acknowledged her team’s performance despite the outcome, stating, “The outcome of this game does not define who they are. They have put a legacy in place at Mason. That can never be taken away.”

Florida State will now look to continue their success into the second round against LSU, hoping to capture their first Sweet 16 berth since 2017.