joker in the Maroons pack. Will need to get serious in Origin III after just 51 metres in game two. Back from two-match ban for

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Florida State Seminoles have climbed in the rankings with an efficient and balanced offense.The defense and rebounding are pretty good, too.Nicole Ekhomu scored 16 points and Ivey Slaughter had 14 points and 10 rebounds to help the No. 8 Seminoles beat Minnesota 75-61 on Wednesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.Reserve center Chatrice White added 13 points and seven rebounds for Florida State (7-1) in its six straight victory. The Seminoles had 11 blocked shots, eight steals and held Minnesota to 33.9 percent shooting.Its our bread-and-butter, Slaughter said. I think thats what makes us a great team on the offensive end because of how we start with defense. Defense is our key.Florida State outrebounded Minnesota 51-32, including 23 offensive rebounds -- leading to 18 second-chance points.Kenisha Bell scored 17 points and Carlie Wagner added 15 for the Gophers (4-3). They have lost three in a row.It was disappointing, Minnesota coach MarleneStollings said. I just dont think that we handled their physicality. We knew they were a very solid rebounding team. But having played against Georgia and North Carolina and outrebounded both teams, I had higher expectation that we would handle the physicality a little bit better than we did.The Seminoles used a 12-2 run at the start of the second quarter to open up a 42-19 lead, their biggest of the night.STAT OF THE NIGHTFlorida State recorded a season-high with the 23 offensive rebounds. The Seminoles made any chance of a comeback difficult by grabbing seven offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter alone.The Gophers entered the game averaging 47.3 rebounds per game, with a plus-3.3 rebounding margin. Florida State had tallied 38.3 rebounds per game and outrebounded opponents by 7.0 per game.We knew that it would be a battle on the boards, Florida State coach Sue Semrau said. We havent been to the same form that we were last year on the boards. That was something we felt like we needed to grow coming into this game. I thought Ivey was tremendous. She is a great rebounder and it was her turn to step up and really assert herself there.STAR WATCHOn the same day she was named one of 50 players on the Naismith Trophy watch list, Wagner was held to her second-lowest scoring game of the season.Wagner entered the game averaging 21.2 points per game to go with 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists. She shot a season-low 12 times against Florida State, hitting six shots. She also had a season low with two rebounds.BIG PICTUREFlorida State: The Seminoles showed they are more than just Leticia Romero and Shakayla Thomas. The teams top two scorers combined for six points. Romero, who entered averaging 14.8 points, had five rebounds and five assists but only took three shots and went scoreless. Thomas was averaging 15.4 points per game. She scored six points on Wednesday. Instead, the bench contributed 37 points, with two players in double figures.Minnesota: The teams shooting is proving to be a concern. The Gophers entered the game averaging 79.2 points, but were shooting 40.4 percent from the field. Minnesota shot 33.9 percent just two games after a season-low 27.1 percent in a loss to Georgia.POLL IMPLICATIONSBack-to-back wins against the Big Ten will certainly look good on Florida States resume, but beating Minnesota wont provide much of a boost. The two previous wins -- against then-No. 25 Gonzaga and 6-1 Michigan -- were more important, as well as the upcoming meeting with No. 19 Florida.UP NEXTFlorida State: An extended stretch of road games, which included winning the Paradise Jam Championship in the Virgin Islands, is over. The Seminoles have some time off before hosting Western Carolina on Dec. 4.Minnesota: Off their first loss at home, the Gophers will try to get back on track when they host Detroit on Dec. 3.Brett Favre Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. Tony Gonzalez Falcons Jersey . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game. http://www.thefaclonsshoponline.com/Calvin-Ridley-Falcons-Jersey/ . As the crowd erupted, Davis knocked the ball off the glass and back into his hands. With 1:14 to go in overtime, Davis sixth block also became his 17th rebound. That, along with his 32 points -- which tied a career high -- proved too much for Denver to overcome, and the Pelicans held on for their third straight victory, 111-107 on Sunday night. Atlanta Falcons Jerseys . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. Kaleb McGary Youth Jersey . Hey!" The lower tier of the School End of Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road was packed solid with a very festive-sounding Chelsea choral section in this particular part of South Africa Road London, W12.Queensland penpix ahead of Wednesdays third State of Origin rugby league match against NSW at ANZ Stadium.Fullback - Darius BoydAge: 28 Origins: 25Has revelled in the switch to fullback for Queensland this year. Rock solid as last line of defence, constant threat in attack.Winger - Corey OatesAge: 21 Origins: 2Will be monitored after being concussed in last NRL match for Brisbane. Former backrower came of age as Origin winger when he scored his maiden Maroons try - the game two matchwinner.Centre - Greg InglisAge: 29 Origins: 29Origins leading try-scorer may be out of sorts but he did enough to see off Dylan Walker. Now for his next trick - stopping the returning Josh Dugan.Centre - Justin ONeillAge: 25 Origins: 2May not be flashy but the Cowboys defensive centre gets the job done. Already looks at home in Maroon despite quiet second game.Winger - Dane GagaiAge: 25 Origins: 3Became only fourth Queenslander to notch an Origin hat-trick in series-sealing game two win. Game breaker - if he can get past Tyson Frizell again.Five-eighth - Johnathan ThurstonAge: 33 Origins: 35Immortal-in-waiting warmed up for Origin III with his years best display, all but ending South Sydneys NRL finals hopes. Now he wants to break NSW hearts.Halfback - Cooper CronkAge: 32 Origins: 18The glue that keeps the team together. Organised and armed with a sublime kicking game. Also no stranger to pulling off a medical miracle.Prop - Matt ScottAge: 30 Origins: 21The leader of the Queensland pack faces arguably his greatest Origin assignment to date - blunting the NSW forwards aiming to send out retiring NSW skipper Paul Gallen a winner.Hooker - Cameron Smith (captain)Age: 333 Origins: 38Outright Origin games record holder is determined not to let a rare series clean sweep slip through Queenslands grasp.ddddddddddddProp - Josh McGuireAge: 26 Origins: 4The former Samoan hooker has come of age as Queensland prop this year. Expected to keep his front row starting spot even if veteran Nate Myles (knee) proves his fitness.Second row - Matt GillettAge: 27 Origins: 14Hard-hitting backrower with impressive line speed and ball skills. Dubbed the best forward in the world by Gorden Tallis. Enough said.Second row - Sam ThaidayAge: 31 Origins: 27The joker in the Maroons pack. Will need to get serious in Origin III after just 51 metres in game two. Back from two-match ban for dangerous throw on Paul Gallen in Origin II.Lock - Corey ParkerAge: 34 Origins: 18Last Origin for retiring veteran backrower. Queensland were already motivated enough to clinch a fifth series whitewash - but this was the clincher.Interchange:Aidan GuerraAge: 28 Origins: 8Starting spot up for grabs next year following Parkers retirement. Time for out-of-sorts Guerra to put his hand up.Jacob LillymanAge: 32 Origins: 12Hulking Warriors forward made the most of his game two call-up, making 93 metres off the bench.Nate MylesAge: 31 Origins: 30Must pass fitness test on knee. Reckons its not his last Origin. Final chance to line up against old foe Paul Gallen.Gavin CooperAge: 30 Origins: DebutLanky backrower thought his Origin ship had sailed. But in his 11th NRL season and after 225 games, Cooper finally earns his Queensland debut. ' ' '