FIU falls to Florida State in WNIT First Round

Thursday, March 20, 2003

FIU falls to Florida State in WNIT First Round

photo by Mark Hagemeier

FIU's Cormisha Cotton is hounded by Florida State's Trinetta Morris in the first round of the Women's NIT, Thursday night in Tallahassee. Cotton, playing her last game as a Golden Panther, was limited to 13 points and six rebounds as FIU (19-11) ended its season with a 77-51 loss to FSU. The Seminoles advance in the postseason tournament and play Auburn later this weekend.

lorida State's Tasheika Morris scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Lady Seminoles past Florida International, 77-51, in first round action of the Women's National Invitation Tournament in Tallahassee on Thursday. It was the final game for FIU seniors Cormisha Cotton, Anita Heller, Silvia Mesa and Mandy Shafer.

FIU trailed most of the contest but cut the lead to two points, 39-37, on a layup by Dace Cinite with 12:58 remaining in the game. FSU then took control and went on a 16-2 run to put the game out of reach.

FSU dominated the boards, holding a 47-36 advantage in rebounds - the biggest deficit for FIU this season. LaQuinta Neely pulled down 10 caroms to lead all-rebounders

Morris dropped in 17 points in the first half on 7-of-10 shooting from the field. Eleven different players scored for FSU.

FIU was led by Ivelina Vrancheva's 14 points. Cotton added 13 points while saddled with foul trouble for much of the game.

"I thought Cormisha did a nice job in the first half," said FIU head coach Cindy Russo. "She got a little timid in the second half and that hurt us."

The Golden Panthers end the season at 19-11. FSU improves to 17-12 and will travel to Auburn for a 4:00 p.m. contest on Sunday.