In its first exhibition game of the season, Florida State women's basketball set out to prove it could defend, and it did that from the opening tip-off. The Seminoles held the University of Tampa Spartans to five first-quarter points. The Seminoles forced 17 turnovers and rolled to a 72-44 exhibition win at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center on Sunday, Oct. 18.
“Only allowing five first-quarter points really set the tone for the game,” head coach Brooke Wyckoff said in the postgame press conference. “Really showed me where our players’ heads were at, and we’re in the right place.”
With a roster that is a mix of returners, transfers, and freshmen, Wyckoff said the exhibition was a chance to learn about her team against an opponent not wearing garnet and golds.
“We have a lot of new faces, and so being able to just look at different lineups, see who’s doing what, see where we need to improve, see what we’re doing well." Wyckoff said.
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FSU led 18-5 after one quarter and 39-19 at halftime. The ’Noles largest lead of the game was 36 points at 65-29. Tampa led only once, 2-0 in the early moments of the game.
Defense creates offense
The ’Noles turned Tampa's 17 turnovers into 19 points and finished with 11 steals. Wyckoff said to reporters that creating extra possessions through steals, forced turnovers, and offensive rebounds will play a large role in the team's identity and focus this season.
“The fact that we forced 17 of them is exactly where we want to be,” Wyckoff said. “It means that we were able to get on the offensive end and have chances to score.”
The Garnet and Gold continued their control of the game, outrebounding Tampa 43-19 and grabbing 18 offensive rebounds.
New faces step up
Sophomore guard Jasmine Nivar led all scorers with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting and went 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. The Campbell transfer and 2026 Coastal Athletic Association Rookie of the Year had two points at halftime before scoring 10 in the third quarter. She credited the energy from the bench and the excitement of finally playing someone other than her own teammates.
Freshman forward Missy Odom, a dual-sport athlete who also plays softball, led Florida State with nine rebounds and added seven points. Odom came off the bench and played 25 minutes, tied for a team-high. She arrived in Tallahassee after playing at Montverde Academy and being one of the nation's top recruits, ranking No. 21 nationally by ESPNW.
More: Dual-sport athlete Missy Odom came to FSU to win. Here's her story
Odom went 1 of 7 from the three-point line, but Wyckoff noted the team has not had much time in the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center yet. Florida State went 5 of 27 on three pointers and 0 of 10 from deep in the second half.
The Seminoles bench outscored the Spartans 43-18, as junior guard Tatum Greene and senior guard Emma Risch added eight points each. Sophomore forward Joy Egbuna went 3 of 3 from the field for seven points, and freshman guard Morgan Stewart had a team-high four assists. Junior guard Jade Thompson led Tampa with 13 points.
Lessons before Thursday
For returners, the motivation may play back to last season's 10-21 finish.
“I think with the people that we have on this team this year, it’s just been going hard every day,” Greene said in the postgame press conference. “People care, and we just have that edge this year.”
Before Thursday, Wyckoff wants cleaner defensive rotations, since late and misplaced help led to many of FSU's 23 fouls. She also wants sharper offensive execution, the kind of thing she said a team only learns by getting reps.
The Seminoles return to the court Thursday, Oct. 22 against Palm Beach Atlantic University at home.
Camille Byrnes is a Staff Writer for the FSView & Florida Flambeau, the student-run, independent online news service for the FSU community.
This article originally appeared on FSU News: Florida State defeated Tampa 72-44 in first season exhibition game