Monroe, Ward and Harvin lead ninth-ranked Florida State to 87-62 win over Hurricanes

Ninth-ranked ‘Noles rally for 87-62 win over Miami

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Jacinta Monroe scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Thursday night to lead ninth-ranked Florida State to an 87-62 win over Miami.

The win keeps the Seminoles’ hopes alive for a second straight Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title.

Monroe left the game with 2:31 remaining with her 22nd career double-double and sixth this season, but a point shy of her career high.

Courtney Ward and Alysha Harvin added 18 points each for the Seminoles, combining to shoot 9 of 15 from 3-point range. Florida State (25-4, 11-2 ACC) needs to win Sunday at Maryland and have first-place Duke lose one of its final two games to catch the Blue Devils.

Riquana Williams came off the bench to lead Miami (16-12, 3-10) with 22 points. Stefanie Yderstrom added 16 points and Shenise Johnson had 11.

The Seminoles trailed 24-12 in the first half before rallying and taking a 41-37 lead at halftime on their way to avenging a 78-70 loss in Miami, Jan. 10.

Florida State has won seven straight and 11 of 12 since being upset by the Hurricanes, with an average margin of victory just under 20 points a game during that span.

The Hurricanes built their early lead on a 15-point outburst by Williams in just 3:29 that keyed a 22-6 run.

But then Florida State took over behind the outside marksmanship of Ward and Harvin and the steady inside play of the 6-foot-5 Monroe.

Ward and Monroe led a 27-9 run that gave the Seminoles their largest lead of the half at 39-33. Ward scored 15 points and Monroe 11 in the half, missing just once between them.

Despite sitting out seven minutes after getting two early fouls, Ward drilled all five of her field goal tries, including three from beyond the arc while Monroe was 4 of 5 from the floor.

Ward, who scored 29 points in Monday’s win at Virginia, led the Seminoles with four assists.

Chasity Clayton’s steal and layup gave the Seminoles the lead for good at 31-29. She had tied it seconds earlier by hitting the second of two free throws.

It was the second time in four days the Seminoles fell behind by double digits in the opening half. Florida State trailed Virginia by 16 points Monday before rallying for a 59-58 win.

The Seminoles’ three seniors — Monroe, Harvin and Angel Gray — were honored in pregame ceremonies in their final regular-season game.