Thomas turns in another big performance in Seminoles win over Virgina Tech
Shakala Thomas continues her dominance of the Hokies with a 22-point performance at the Civic Center.
By St. Clair Murraine
Outlook staff writer
Florida State’s senior forward Shakala Thomas owns Virginia Tech. Plain and simple.
When she led FSU with 22 points in a 68-50 victory over the Hokies this past Sunday, it was her third straight game finishing as top scorer for the Seminoles against Virginia Tech. This time she also hit all of her six attempts from the free-throw line, with two steals against a team that has a top-five rated defense.
The victory was the eighth straight for the 11th-ranked Seminoles after a rocky start to the season. Thomas came off the bench to help make sure that FSU maintained its dominance over the Hokies on an afternoon when it was all FSU in a game that they never trailed.
Coach Sue Semrau said she wasn’t concerned about what effort Thomas would have given, despite coming off the bench.
“She has been humble, willing to do whatever it takes,” said Semrau. “It’s fun to have somebody on the bench to come in off the bench and do the kinds of things that she can do.”
Leticia Romero and Emiah Bingley each scored nine points for the Seminoles who hit 23 of 56 field goal attempts for 41.1 shooting. Chanette Hicks was the Hokies’ only double-digit scorer with 11.
Thomas scored six of her points in the first half when the Seminoles limited Virginia Tech to 14 rebounds, while taking a 27-13 lead into the locker room.
Virginia Tech could never get back into the game after Kai James’ layup turned FSU’s lead into double-digits on a lay-up with 24 seconds remaining in the half.
Virginia Tech didn’t have a single second-chance point in the first half. FSU had 21 for the night and Semrau pointed to evidence of how strong her team is becoming defensively.
“The defensive effort was what I’m most proud of,” she said. “To give up only 13 points (in the first half) to an ACC team is more than what I can ask.
“That was big for us and that’s something we need to continue to do.”
