It was a career night for the senior guards, Sydney Bowles and Amaya Bonner, as they led Florida State women’s basketball (6-12, 1-5) to its first ACC victory over Pittsburgh, 69-65, on Thursday night at the Petersen Events Center.
Bowles, who came off the bench, dropped a career-best six of FSU’s nine 3-pointers to finish the night with 24 points. She shot 7 of 15 from the floor, and she grabbed six rebounds.
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Bonner scored 22 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. She also made nine of her 10 free throws at the line. The two veterans were the only Seminoles who finished in double figures.
While Bonner and Bowles were the only two double-digit scorers, the rest of the Seminoles played efficiently on defense. The Seminoles totaled nine steals and three blocks. Junior forward Tatum Greene had four of those steals, and then junior forward Pania Davis grabbed 10 rebounds
FSU was off to a strong start with a 14-2 run, knocking down four 3s. Bowles hit three of those 3-point shots. The Panthers responded with a 10-0 run to the game at 16 by the end of the first quarter.
FSU took control in the next quarter after Allie Kubek hit a 3-pointer to put FSU at six, and stretched the lead to a 12-point-run. FSU was ahead 34-28 at the half.
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FSU’s defense went to work in the third quarter when the Seminoles held the Panthers to two points in the first five minutes of the second half. The Seminoles also took advantage at the foul line by knocking down six perfect free throws from Greene and Bowles. FSU kept the lead to 56-45 heading into the fourth.
Pitt outscored FSU 20-13. The Panthers cut the Seminoles’ lead to one, 62-61, with 2:23 left to play. Bonner clinched the game for the Noles by driving through the lane and putting up FSU’s final seven points.
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What’s next for FSU basketball
FSU will return to the Donald L. Tucker Center to host No. 23 North Carolina (14-5, 3-3) on Sunday, Jan. 18. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. The game will be televised on the CW Network.
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The next week, FSU will head to Dallas to face SMU (7-11, 0-6) on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m. Then, it will return home to face Georgia Tech (8-10, 3-3) on Jan. 25 at 4 p.m.
2025-26 FSU Women’s Basketball Regular Season Schedule
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Nov. 3 Florida A&M, W, 112-39
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Nov. 6 Georgia Southern W 80-72
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Nov. 9 at UConn L, 99-67
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Nov. 12 Nicholls State W, 89-64
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Nov. 16 Indiana L, 76-72
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Nov. 20 at Florida, L 89-67
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Nov. 23 Illinois L 86-63
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Nov. 28 vs. Missouri State W 85-75
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Nov. 30 vs. No. 8 Oklahoma L 109-91
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Dec. 3 Georgia, L 80-60
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Dec. 7 Notre Dame L, 93-58
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Dec. 14 College of Charleston L 75-70
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Dec. 18 Virginia Tech L 79-54
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Dec. 20 South Carolina State W 89-41
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Jan 1 at Syracuse L, 82-72
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Jan. 4 Virginia L, 91-87 double OT
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Jan. 11 at Miami L 89-73
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Jan. 15 at Pittsburgh W 69-65
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Jan. 18 North Carolina Tallahassee, Fla.
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Jan. 22 at SMU Dallas, Texas
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Jan. 25 Georgia Tech Tallahassee, Fla.- 4 PM | ACCN
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Feb. 1 at Clemson Clemson, S.C. – 6 PM | ACCN
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Feb. 5 at NC State Raleigh, N.C. – 9 PM | ACCN
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Feb. 8 Miami Tallahassee, Fla.
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Feb. 12 Boston College Tallahassee, Fla.
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Feb. 15 at Louisville Louisville, Ky. – 6 PM | ACCN
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Feb. 19 California Tallahassee, Fla.
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Feb. 22 Stanford Tallahassee, Fla. – 2 PM | ACCN
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Feb. 26 at Duke Durham, N.C. – 9 PM | ACCN
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March 1 at Wake Forest Winston-Salem, N.C. – 4 PM | ACCN
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU basketball wins at Pitt behind Sydney Bowles, Amaya Bonner
