Jan. 23, 2009

Seminoles Hold Off No. 16 Virginia, 80-75
Courtney Ward scored 18 points and Tanae Davis-Cain had 16 as No. 22 Florida State held off a second-half rally by No. 16 Virginia and won 80-75 Friday night. It was the Seminoles' eighth consecutive victory.

Florida State (17-4, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), off to its best start in ACC history, led by 13 and held on even when the Cavaliers kept pulling to within a point.

Virginia (15-4, 2-2) got within one twice in the final minute, first on a free throw by Chelsea Shine and later on a putback with 11.3 seconds left. But Jacinta Monroe answered the first time by making both ends of a one-and-one with 20.5 seconds left, and Mara Freshour hit a pair of free throws with 9.9 seconds to play, giving the Seminoles a 78-75 lead that held up.

Monica Wright led Virginia with 24 points and Lyndra Littles added 21.

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Boston College Women's Basketball Tames Tigers, 71-51
Sophomore Carolyn Swords scored 19 of her game-high 29 points in the second half as Boston College cruised to a 71-51 victory over ACC foe Clemson in front of 1924 fans at Conte Forum on Friday night. The Eagles picked up a crucial ACC victory and improved to 4-1 in the conference and 16-4 overall, while Clemson is now 12-8 overall and 2-4 in the ACC.

Swords finished the night shooting 11-for-13 (8-for-8 in the second half, 84.6 percent for the game) and six rebounds, while Mickel Picco added 17 points. Senior Brittanny Johnson came off the bench and added eight points, four rebounds and three assists, while sophomore Jaclyn Thoman notched six rebounds and five assists.

The Eagles broke the game open in the second half, holding Clemson to just 15 total points on 3-for-30 shooting. BC opened the half with a 9-3 run behind three points from Stefanie Murphy (7 pts., 5 rebs., 2 blocks) and four from Swords. BC was up 42-39 at 16:54 and Clemson could not stop the Eagles.

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