As one of just two seniors honored on Sunday in Florida State women’s basketball’s (21-9, 12-6 ACC) game against Clemson at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, Sara Bejedi did not disappoint.
Playing with four fouls for the majority of the fourth quarter, Bejedi threw down 19 points, to help the Seminoles to a thrilling 82-79 overtime win over Clemson (12-18, 5-13) in front of 2,445 fans.
“I’m super happy for this win and proud of our team for their resiliency,” FSU head coach Brooke Wyckoff said. “I’m just so excited that it was senior day and what a way to go out. In her last game at The Tuck, just what Sara [Bejedi] was able to do and the big plays she came up with at the end of the game.”
“I’m just proud of our team and this is what March is probably going to feel like.”
Bejedi dominates on senior night
Clemson had a consistent 10-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, but a 14-4 run by FSU pushed the game into overtime.
Bejedi had a clutch 3-pointer in the game’s final minute to force overtime.
In a back-and-forth affair in overtime, while the game was tied, Clemson called a timeout with none left, leading to a technical foul.
“It’s just a great lesson where anything can happen and we can’t assume this is just over,” Wyckoff said on Clemson calling timeout with none left. “You can’t just assume things aren’t going to go our way today and just kind of mail it in. There’s been so many moments like that this season and things can turn on a dime”
“It’s a great life lesson and a great momentum shift for us. It’s just one of those moments you never know what could happen.”
Bejedi made 1-of-2 at the line, with one second left, which ended up being the game-winning basket.
“Shout out to coach Brooke. She works so hard with me when it comes to my mental game,” Bejedi said. “I’m a very let’s say sensitive person, so if this was me a year ago I would’ve missed both free throws. It was kind of like what do I do when I keep missing threes and it’s keep going. Keep having that confidence.”
“The fact that the coaches have confidence in me to put me in that position just says a lot about what we stand for in this culture.”
Bejedi’s mental game is something she’s emphasized all throughout this season and credited the improvement of it to her success.
This season she’s been a constant scoring for FSU, averaging 12.3 points a game. She hit a career-high 31 points in the Seminoles 89-81 win over Virginia Tech on Jan. 14.
“Last year I would’ve gotten passive, not shot at all or probably not wanted to,” Bejedi said. “I can tell you stories about when I got put on the free throw and I’d flop so hard I’d fake an injury, so another one would shoot the free throws.”
“We’ve come a long way and it’s a good ending.”
Closing out after rough start
FSU was notably without its season-leading scorer, Ta’Niya Latson, in overtime, who fouled out with 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter. She finished with 17 points.
Makayla Timpson was second in scoring with 18 points and O’Mariah Gordon followed with 16. Brianna “Snoop” Turnage had a team-high six rebounds.
“She [Latson] fouled out and we didn’t flinch,” Wyckoff said. “It was next person up. We’ve got so many important players that know how to get stops. I needed not to feel any kind of flinch from the team…To her credit, Ta’Niya was very vocal and encouraging her teammates.”
“I’m proud of how we responded to that adversity. That was tough.”
As a team, the Seminoles were able to clean up their shooting woes from earlier in the game, hitting 40% (28-of-69) from the field and 78% (18-of-23) from the line.
The offensive spark late made up for Clemson’s shooting efficiency from early on. The Tigers finished shooting 40% (30-of-75) from the field and 78% (18-of-23) from the line.
Clemson only missed one free throw in regulation.
DayshanetteHarris led all players in scoring with 22 points, shooting a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line.
FSU finishes out the regular season at 21-9 overall and 12-6 in ACC play.
FSU is the No. 6 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament and will play No. 11 Virginia or No. 14 Pittsburgh in the second round on Thursday, March 7 at the Greensboro Coliseum at 5 p.m.
Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on X @jackgwilliams.
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