ST. PETERSBURG — Shaylee Gonzales scored 24 points, including three clutch free throws in the final 42 seconds, and BYU knocked off the No. 17-ranked Florida State women 61-54 in the St. Pete Showcase at Eckerd College on Thursday night.
The Seminoles suffered their first loss of the year, falling to 4-1.
The 24 points matched Gonzales’ season high, and she also had a season-high five steals as BYU swiped the ball a season-best 14 times, scoring 25 points off as many Florida State turnovers.
The Cougars (6-0) had their own rough stretch with turnovers, losing the ball on three straight possessions as the Seminoles cut a 13-point gap to 58-54 with 1:45 remaining.
Sammie Puisis led Florida State with 16 points, hitting 4-of-8 3-pointers. Morgan Jones had a double double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Redshirt senior point guard Bianca Jackson missed her second straight game with an ankle injury.
A 10-0 run that spanned the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth put BYU ahead 51-38 with the Seminoles going scoreless for roughly five minutes.
The teams battled through four lead changes and three ties in the first quarter. Albiero’s jumper with 36 seconds left in the period gave BYU the lead for good.
FSU faces Purdue in the consolation game of the St. Pete Showcase on Saturday.
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