FSU women's basketball's Ta'Niya Latson 'focused on winning' in journey to 1,000 career points

Editors note: Quotes from Ta'Niya Latson are from a prior interview conducted on Jan. 10, 2024.

Florida State women's basketball sophomore guard Ta'Niya Latson has been on the brink of 1,000 career points for about a week.

Three straight 30-point performances fast-tracked her milestone moment to happen either against North Carolina, on Thursday, Jan. 11, or Virginia Tech, on Sunday.

However, ACC opponents have begun to key in on Latson, clogging up the paint and making it hard for her to find the basket. But what's been most important to Latson is winning for her team.

"Going into my sophomore season, I knew that was a goal of mine and I wanted to achieve it but honestly I'm not looking to go score 1000 points next game," Latson told the Democrat in an interview on Wednesday.

"I'm looking to just win the game honestly, and just be myself. It would mean a lot, but I'm just blessed to be in that position."

Her first of two free throws with 30 seconds left in FSU's game against Virginia Tech gave Latson the push she needed to 1,000. Not only that, the pair of free throws sealed the game in the Seminoles' upset win over No. 11 Virginia Tech, 89-81, on Sunday.

"She was focused on winning this game as we all were," FSU head coach Wyckoff said postgame. "I don't want to take anything away from Ta'Niyah. She's the fastest to ever reach it at Florida State and she has done so many wonderful things, but it's just a testament to whether she was thinking about it or not."

Elevating her game even higher

Latson knew coming into the season that 1,000 career points was a reality.

She finished with an impressive 659 points her freshman year, winning ACC Newcomer of the Year honors. Latson ended up missing the ACC Tournament and the first round of the NCAA tournament due to a left knee injury.

She was also sidelined in the preseason and missed FSU's first regular season game against Charleston Southern before returning against Tennessee on Nov. 9.

"In the summer, I was a little doubtful," Latson said. "Just getting back into top shape was my biggest goal this year, to feel like myself and I feel like since ACC play has started, I feel like I've grown back into who I am."

"Non-conference gave me a good measure of where I wanted to go and where I wanted to be."

Once returning, she'd picked up where she left off, averaging 20.3 points per game and eclipsing double-scoring figures 14 times this season.

Latson threw down a career-high 35 points in the Seminoles victory over Florida, 79-75, on Nov. 17.

She said feels like her game has elevated this year because she's been in a leadership role, which is allowing her to play a little more freely.

"Coach gave me honor being one of the captains on the team, so that's already different from last year and I feel like I have more of a voice on the team," Latson said. "My voice matters. That's one of the big differences from last year."

Milestone moment

Entering ACC play, she had three straight games where she had finished with 30 points, forecasting the 1,000-point game to come in one of two FSU home games against North Carolina or Virginia Tech.

However, it was easier said than done as conference opponents began to key in on Latson.

Against UNC, she finished with eight points and left the game early after going down hard chasing after the ball.

"It can be very easy to get frustrated after having those three 30-point ACC games, but she continues to stay the course and try to figure it out," Wyckoff said. "When it's not going her way, meaning when she's not able to score at will like she does in some other games, you see her doing the right things and try not to force."

"She's all about the win. She's happy for Sara [Bejedi]. It's a testament to the maturity of a sophomore. Someone with a lot on their shoulders that can handle it and make plays down the stretch."

She came into Sunday's game needing 17 points to eclipse the 1,000-point mark and was facing one of the strongest defensive teams in the country, Virginia Tech. At halftime, Latson only had five points off of two buckets.

The third quarter started rough as she was shooting 2-of-6 at the free throw line and only made one field goal. However, she cleaned up at the line in the fourth quarter, shooting 7-of-8, and put away the game in the final minute.

A layup and two more makes at the line gave Latson just what she needed to pass 1,000 career points and then some. She'd finish the game with 20 points and 1,001 in her career.

Joining an elite group of FSU basketball legends, and becoming the fastest to reach 1,000 career points, Latson isn't pushing or forcing anything that doesn't feel natural. She's figuring out what works not just for her team, but for herself.

"I'm just being myself. I'm just letting the game come to me," Latson said. "That's always my mindset going into the game being aggressive and knowing what I'm capable of. My teammates and coaches make that easy for me. I'm just going out there just trying to do what I can for my team."

Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on X @jackgwilliams.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State's Ta'Niya Latson 1,000 career points emphasized by drive to win