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Seminoles can't overcome foul issues as they trail the entire game on the campus of Colorado State University.

Nov. 29, 2008

Box Score

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FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Florida State women's basketball team fell to underdog Valparaiso in the championship game of the Coors Rocky Mountain Invitational Saturday night by a score of 80-74.

The Seminoles (5-2) fought back from as many as 19 points down to cut the Crusaders (3-1) lead to four points with just over 30 seconds remaining in the game but in the end it wasn't enough to avoid the upset.

On a night when the Mountain West Conference officiating crew was quick with the whistle, the Seminoles battled foul issues all evening long. In total, FSU finished with 29 total team fouls compared to 17 by Valparaiso. Because of that discrepancy, the Crusaders were able to go to the free-throw line a school-record 42 times and they made the most of it connecting on 35 of those tries.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Seminoles went to the charity stripe just 16 times but did make 13 of those attempts.

Cierra Bravard and Alysha Harvin were penalized the most for FSU as both post players fouled out late in the second half.

Defensively, Florida State allowed four different players to score in double figures and two to score at least 20.

For the Seminoles, senior guard Mara Freshour had her best game of the year with a team- and season-high 16 points. Junior forward Jacinta Monroe also added 13 points while junior guard Angel Gray tied her career high with 10 points. Courtney Ward and Cierra Bravard posted 12 and 11 points, respectively, as well.

Valparaiso benefited from an 11-0 run late in the first half as the Seminoles didn't score for over a three-minute time span. Combine near-perfect free-throw shooting by Valpo with FSU foul trouble, and the 'Noles found themselves trailing 30-44 at the halftime break.

Valparaiso reached the championship game by defeating host Colorado State Friday night. The Crusaders earned a 64-53 victory over the Rams in that contest.

The Seminoles arrived in Colorado on Wednesday and spent the night in Denver before enjoying the Thanksgiving Holiday at the family home of graduate assistant coach Joanna Reitz. Following the meal, FSU players, coaches and personnel boarded the team bus for the hour-long drive to the Colorado State campus.

FSU will spend one more night in Fort Collins before leaving for Tallahassee Sunday afternoon.