FSU women's basketball looking for 1st NCAA Tournament win in 5 years against Alabama
March Madness is here for Florida State women's basketball as it looks for its first NCAA Tournament win in five years Friday.
The No. 9 Seminoles are in Austin, Texas, to take on No. 8 Alabama at 5:30 p.m. The winner will likely get No. 1 Texas, which faces No. 16 Drexel at 3 p.m. on Friday.
The second round game will take place on Sunday at the Moody Center.
It's been half a decade since FSU has won an NCAA Tournament game, defeating Bucknell as a No. 5 seed, 70-67, in the first round in 2019. The Seminoles lost the next game to No. 1 South Carolina, 72-64.
Following its 2019 NCAA Tournament run, FSU has gone 0-3.
FSU playing with a full roster
One of the benefits the Seminoles will have is a full roster, headed by AP All-American honorable mention guard Ta'Niya Latson. Latson didn't play in last season's NCAA Tournament game due to a season-ending injury.
Latson is averaging 21.3 points a game, which ranks 13th in the nation. She's had seven 30+ point games this season.
She's been supported in the paint by forward Makayla Timpson, who is averaging 14.1 points and 10 rebounds a game.
Timpson has an impressive 17 double-doubles this season, which is a program single-season record and ranks 18th nationally.
On the perimeter, guards O'Mariah Gordon and Sara Bejedi have both proven to be efficient shooters. Gordon is two games off a 24-point performance in FSU's 78-65 win over Syracuse in ACC Tournament quarterfinals.
The Seminoles' Achilles heel could be depth beyond their starters.
The bench is averaging just 19.1 points.
Foul trouble has been an issue as of late from starters.
Latson fouled out in regulation in the Seminoles' last game of the regular season against Clemson, where FSU was able to pull out the win in overtime, 82-79. She also fouled out in the ACC quarterfinal game against Syracuse.
Timpson committed four, three in the first half, in the Seminoles ACC semifinal game against NC State, which ended up hurting them in the end.
Alabama getting help off bench
Alabama is led by Sarah Ashlee Barker, who is averaging 17.2 points and 6.4 rebounds and is shooting 50% from the field. Defensively, forward Essence Cody is averaging 7.9 points and 6.3 rebounds.
The Crimson Tide will be without one of their starting guards, Jessica Timmons, who suffered an ankle injury in SEC Tournament quarterfinals. She averaged 11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds this season.
Karly Weathers will likely take her place. She is averaging 4.7 points and 3.8 rebounds.
Alabama is a 3.5-point favorite according to ESPN BET and has a 55.8% chance to win according to ESPN Analytics.
How to watch FSU women's basketball vs. Alabama in March Madness 2024
Who: NCAA Tournament first round - No. 9 Florida State (23-10, 12-6 ACC) vs. No. 8 Alabama (23-9, 10-6 SEC)
When: Friday, 5:30 p.m. at Moody Center, Austin, Tx.
TV: ESPN2
Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on X @jackgwilliams.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU basketball tips off women's March Madness 2024 vs Alabama
