Makayla Timpson moves silently on the court.

The 6-foot-2 forward's game may not be as flashy as some of her teammates, but her presence has been one of the most critical elements in Florida State women's basketball's success this season.

Through 29 games played, the forward is averaging 14.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, as close as you can get to averaging a double-double.

A 17-point, 11-rebound performance in a loss to Louisville on Feb. 29 tied Timpson for FSU's most double-doubles in a single season (15) alongside WNBA All-Star Natasha Howard, who played at FSU from 2010 to 2014.

Timpson will have a chance to break the record set during the 2013-14 season when FSU (20-9, 11-6 ACC) takes on Clemson (12-17, 5-12) to close out the regular season at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.

She has also eclipsed 1,000 career points this season.

Timpson's double-double count ranks 21st in the nation. She also ranks ninth nationally for blocks in the season with 74 and 20th in rebounds with 275.

After averaging 13.2 points and 8.8 rebounds a game her sophomore season, Timpson knew that averaging a double-double was possible, but the biggest element came in having the confidence of knowing she could do it.

"It's just knowing that I'm capable of doing it every game and every night no matter how I feel," Timpson said. "Sometimes we play basketball and sometimes we're just not 100%, but we can give it as much as we can..."

"Just knowing that each night is important, especially in the ACC season is being able to grab those rebounds and get those points. It just allows me to understand that I'm a great player and I can keep doing it."

Reliable rebounder

The confidence shift has been huge for Timpson's game.

As a freshman, Timpson said she just wanted to be on the court. But coming out of that season with 17.7 minutes in 31 games, she had the realization that she wanted to make an impact when she was out on the court and not just get playing time.

A confidence boost also came with understanding mistakes and playing through them.

"I used to just want to stay on the floor and try to get minutes. I just wanted to do every little thing that I could but I didn't play with confidence and I didn't play through my mistakes," Timpson said.

"As I'm a junior, I played through all the mistakes and understand that if I make a mistake, I just can get it back next time and I'm able to adjust, read back, read the game more and understand more."

This year has been huge for Timpson, but it's been even bigger for the Seminoles' success in the paint.

Most of the time, Timpson is the tallest player on the court and the tallest of FSU's scoring effort of Ta'Niya Latson (5-foot-8 inches and 21.5 ppg), Sara Bejedi (5-foot-7 inches and 12.3 ppg) and O'Mariah Gordon (5-foot-4 inches and 13.3 ppg).

FSU head coach Brooke Wyckoff has said that the rebounding effort has been a little harder for the Seminoles compared to its ACC counterparts. However, Timpson has been an anchor this season under the net.

"I'm the rim protector and I just gotta protect everything around the rim, like blocking the shots when some of my guards get beat sometimes, being able to secure the ball and grab a rebound so we can get out in transition," Timpson said.

"It is a lot of responsibility, but I'm taking it very well and just trying to keep it consistent with and being reliable for my teammates."

There has been some pressure on Timpson to control the paint, but she said that her teammates have improved around her, specifically sophomore Brianna "Snoop" Turnage.

Starting at guard in every game this season, Turnage is averaging six rebounds a game and 0.7 blocks.

"That's been a great help for me going in there helping me rebound a ball," Timpson said. "Our length is pretty good and our ability to jump and get rebounds pretty great. Having her [Turnage] helping me out with getting the rebounds is an incredible experience and I appreciate her being on the floor with me."

'I'm just grateful and blessed'

The experience of being trusted by her team as a paint protector, executing it efficiently and ranked as one of the top stat-getters in the nation has "meant a lot" to Timpson.

Coming from Edison, Georgia, a town of fewer than 1,500 people, she felt like there wasn't too much attention coming her way when it came to her game.

Coming out of high school I was a good player, but I wasn't spoken about as much," Timpson said. "Over the years I've just stayed consistent and knew that my journey would all mean something at the end of the day. The things that I knew people didn't notice, but now they do make me feel good.

"I'm just grateful and blessed for everything that's coming in and things that will come in the future."

Timpson's focus heading into the final game of the regular season against Clemson on Sunday at home is to win and continue cementing FSU's effort for higher seeding in the ACC and NCAA tournaments. However, she could make history in these next few games.

One more double-double performance puts her all alone as FSU's single-season double-double leader.

It's a lot of attention and pressure that Timpson has embraced this season, but she also enjoys the quieter moments.

Like fishing along the Alabama/Georgia border with her dad.

Timpson is looking into getting her Florida fishing license but said nothing compares to the kind of catfish you can catch on Walter F. George Lake.

"Just being able to be outdoors and in nature is so peaceful and I just like the opportunity to spend time with my dad and my family as well," Timpson said. "I just love being out there on the water, catching a lot of fish and just enjoying God's nature."

How to watch FSU women's basketball vs. Clemson

Who: Florida State (20-9, 11-5) vs. Clemson (12-17, 5-12)

When: Sunday, 4 p.m. at Donald L. Tucker Civic Center

TV: ACC Network

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: Makayla Timpson 'knew she was capable' of success with Florida State