Monroe has 20 points, 11 rebounds to lead No. 10 Florida State past Virginia Tech, 78-68

No. 10 Florida State beats Virginia Tech 78-68

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Jacinta Monroe had a season-high 20 points and 11 rebounds Thursday night to lead 10th-ranked Florida State to a 78-68 win over Virginia Tech.

It was the 6-foot-5 Monroe’s third double-double in five games as the Seminoles (23-4, 9-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) stayed within a game of league-leading Duke in their bid for a second straight regular season conference title.

Florida State has won nine of 10 since a loss at Miami on Jan. 10. Aside from a 73-43 loss Jan. 29 at Duke, the Seminoles have won by an average of 21.1 points a game.

Lindsay Biggs led Virginia Tech (13-13, 2-9) with 23 points and Porschia Hadley added 15

Monroe shot 8 for 13 and had five offensive rebounds. Courtney Ward had 14 points, including 4 for 5 on 3-pointers, Cierra Bravard scored 13 points and redshirt freshman Alexa Deluzio had 11. Deluzio also had a spectacular basket where she flipped a shot blindly up over her head after being knocked to the floor.

The Seminoles built their largest lead 6 minutes into the second half at 51-35 on two free throws by Monroe. Virginia Tech pulled to 68-59 with 4:15 left on Biggs’ 3, but could get no closer.

Deluzio’s 3 with 6 seconds left in the half gave the Seminoles a 32-37 lead at the break.

Biggs and Hadley combined for nine consecutive points as the Hokies tied the score at 18-18 with 5:46 left in the half, but Monroe’s layup gave the Seminoles the lead for good.

Florida State shot 44.3 percent and had a 40-28 advantage in rebounds.