TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) With Florida State ahead by 37 points late in the game, coach Sue Semrau used the opportunity to find a way to get a basket for Gabby Bevillard.
A redshirt freshman who has had four knee surgeries, Bevillard had not been able to step on the court in a college game. Wearing braces on both knees and taking the court just weeks after losing her mom to cancer, Bevillard made a 3-pointer with 1:50 left in the game.
Semrau called a timeout, and Bevillard was quickly swarmed by her teammates as they celebrated.
Bevillard's 3 was the emotional punctuation mark in No. 9 Florida State's 81-38 victory over Clemson on Thursday night. Ivey Slaughter led the way with 13 points and 12 rebounds as the Seminoles got their 24th win of the season, their most since 2010-11.
Bevillard's basket made the night memorable for Florida State.
''It's been incredible,'' Semrau said. ''It was watching her battle the rehab, battle the surgeries, battle with her mom down to the wire. The way that she has stepped up with the kind of courage that most people don't have at a young age is phenomenal.''
Semrau said Thursday's game will be Bevillard's one and only in a Florida State uniform. Bevillard will watch the rest of the season from the bench and then will be medically disqualified. She wants to pursue a career in athletics administration.
But one game, 2 minutes on the court and three career points, meant everything to Bevillard.
''A rush of adrenaline,'' Bevillard said. ''It was an awesome feeling. My teammates have been my rock the past two years.''
Florida State was in control from the start, dominating a Clemson team that played without its No. 2 scorer, Tiffany Lewis.
Slaughter recorded her sixth double-double of the season, and Morgan Jones added 10 points and seven rebounds for Florida State (24-3, 11-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), which won for the 11th time in 12 games. The Seminoles, who gave up the fewest points in an ACC game this season, now have 20 double-digit wins.
Nikki Dixon scored 16 points for Clemson (9-17, 1-12), which has lost 12 straight. Dixon made 5 of 13 shots from the floor, while her teammates made 10 of 40 shots.
''It was a lot of pressure on (Dixon) to keep us in the game,'' Clemson coach Audra Smith said. ''She's a tough player.''
Florida State shot 28 of 60 (46.7 percent) from the floor.
Cha'Nelle Perry added nine points for Clemson, which was just 2 for 12 on 3-pointers. The Tigers also had 23 turnovers, including 13 in the second half.
The Seminoles improved to 13-0 at home, the only ACC team that is still unbeaten on its home court.
ACCUMULATING WINS
Florida State won its 24th game of the season on Thursday, the most the Seminoles have had in a single season since the 2010-11 team went 24-8. The most wins that Semrau has had in a single season is 29 in 2009-10.
PAINT IT PINK
Florida State held its fifth annual ''Paint it pink'' game as a fund-raiser for breast cancer awareness. The Seminoles wore all pink uniforms with hot pink socks. Clemson wore white uniforms with pink sleeves and pink socks. Both teams wore pink and black shoes. Proceeds from the sales of pink T-shirts went to a local hospital.
TIP-INS
Florida State: The Seminoles' win tied up the all-time series with Clemson at 24.
Clemson: The Tigers came into the game leading the nation in minutes played by freshmen (2,673).
UP NEXT
Florida State: At Boston College on Sunday.
Clemson: Hosts Georgia Tech on Sunday.
