Florida State Routs Tampa 72-44 in Exhibition
Florida State forced 17 Tampa turnovers and led by as many as 36 points in an exhibition win at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Basketball
Florida State women's basketball defeated Tampa 72-44 in an exhibition game at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center on Sunday, Oct. 18. The Seminoles led 18-5 after one quarter and 39-19 at halftime.
Why it matters
The exhibition gives Tallahassee fans an early look at the Seminoles' defense, which forced 17 turnovers and recorded 11 steals against Tampa. The result provides an early indication of how the roster is shaping up before regular-season play.
Florida State shot 5 of 27 from three-point range, including 0 of 10 from deep in the second half, while sophomore guard Jasmine Nivar scored 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting. The Seminoles also grabbed 18 offensive rebounds, though whether that edge will carry into official games is not yet known.
The players
Jasmine Nivar
Nivar is a sophomore guard for Florida State whose 14-point, 5-of-7 shooting performance led the Seminoles' offense in the exhibition win.
Missy Odom
Odom is a freshman forward for Florida State who recorded nine rebounds and seven points in the exhibition victory.
The details
Florida State held Tampa to five first-quarter points and converted its 17 forced turnovers into 19 points. Freshman forward Missy Odom added nine rebounds and seven points off the bench.
Timeline
Sunday, Oct. 18: Florida State defeats Tampa 72-44 in exhibition play.
Season Trajectory
Exhibition results carry limited weight in the standings, but a dominant defensive showing against Tampa offers an early read on a roster that will be tested in regular-season conference play. The Seminoles' next game, against Palm Beach Atlantic University on Thursday, Oct. 22, at home, will provide the first additional data point.
Fantasy and bracket watchers can note that Nivar's efficient 14-point game and Odom's rebounding double-digit contribution are the most concrete roster signals from the exhibition. The Seminoles' next home game on Oct. 22 gives the first chance to see whether the defensive pressure translates when opponents are playing for keeps.
The takeaway
The exhibition result suggests Florida State's defense can generate easy offense early, but the three-point shooting numbers are the area to watch before regular-season play begins. Tracking whether the Seminoles keep their rebounding edge in the next home game will clarify how sustainable this performance is.
What happens next
Florida State plays Palm Beach Atlantic University at home on Thursday, Oct. 22.
Further reading
For more on the program, see Basketball coverage from Tallahassee.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bradenton Herald.
