Taylor scores 16, fuels game-breaking run as No. 22 Louisville women top Florida State 70-55

Updated: Mar 1, 2024, 09:22 am

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- — Sydney Taylor scored 10 of her 16 points in a game-changing run in the second quarter, Olivia Cochran and Nyla Harris each had a double-double and No. 22 Louisville defeated Florida State 70-55 on Thursday night.

Kiki Jefferson broke a tie at 24 with consecutive baskets before Taylor hit a free throw and drilled three straight 3-pointers. By the half, the Cardinals led 43-26 after a 19-2 run.

Louisville can earn a top-four seed and double-bye in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament with a win over No. 17 Notre Dame in the regular-season finale on Sunday The Cardinals, Irish and North Carolina State are all 12-5 in league play. Syracuse finished at 13-5 after an overtime loss to the Wolfpack. Florida State was knocked out of top-four contention.

Cochran had 16 points and 11 rebounds for Louisville (12-5, 23-7) and Harris had 11 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.

Ta'Niya Latson had 18 points for the Seminoles (20-9, 11-6) and Makayla Timpson had 17 with 11 rebounds. O'Mariah Gordon added 11 points.

Florida State missed five-straight shots before Timpson ended Taylor's run with a jumper that made it 38-26. The Seminoles missed four more shots to end the second quarter and their first eight of the third quarter. When Latson scored to end the drought, Louisville led 51-32.

The Cardinals went 3 of 12 in the fourth quarter but shot 41%. (28 of 68) and outrebounded FSU 57-32 to offset an 18-7 difference in turnovers.

Florida State shot 32%, going 2 of 20 from 3-point range.

The Seminoles close with a home game against Clemson on Sunday.

------ Get alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here ------ AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball