College football

Fundraiser to headline women's

By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published February 17, 2005

For the women's basketball program, the regular-season home finale on Saturday would make for an emotional evening if it were only a time to recognize its senior guards Roneeka Hodges and Linnea Liljestrand .

They have meant that much to the unexpected resurgence of the Seminoles. But FSU will use this game against Virginia Tech to do more. It will help raise money for Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test by donating $1 for every ticket sold.

"This is a real thing to us," coach Sue Semrau said of the cause. "It's (breast cancer) a statistic, but it's a statistic that really hits home when it happens to someone you love."

For Semrau and the Seminoles, that happened with the death of Janet Lautsch , the mother of freshman forward Christie Lautsch . After battling breast cancer for seven years, Mrs. Lautsch died in May. She was 56.

Christie Lautsch, a Street & Smith honorable mention All-American as a junior and senior at Campbell High in Smyrna, Ga., averages 2.9 points and 1.6 rebounds for the Seminoles (21-5, 7-4 in the ACC), who play at league rival No.21 North Carolina State (18-5, 7-3) tonight. But she briefly considered not going to college right away after her mother's death.

"My mom wouldn't have wanted me not to go to school. She wouldn't have wanted me not to live my life," Lautsch said. "I feel she prepared me to live my life and I should go on and do the things I needed to do."

Like playing a part in Saturday's fundraiser and call for awareness.

"We want to see a lot of people who can benefit from this kind of research," said Semrau, who said Mrs. Lautsch became a part of the FSU family even in their short time together. "We'd love to salute our seniors on senior night, but we also want to salute this cause. It's two great causes coming together."

FUTURE SCHEDULES: The women will play Miami, Clemson and Virginia, their ACC primary partners, home and away each of the next two basketball seasons and the other eight teams once. Next year, the Seminoles host newest member Boston College, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and North Carolina State and visit Duke, North Carolina, Maryland and Georgia Tech. Those eight rotate in 2006-07.

UTILITY PLAYER: Although junior left-handed pitcher Barrett Browning had solid starts against Charleston Southern and VMI, he moved to long relief last weekend with the return of Hunter Jones and Brian Schultz . Different role, same results. Browning pitched four scoreless innings of relief (three hits, one walk and three strikeouts) against Auburn on Saturday as the Seminoles rallied for a 6-5 win. For the year, Browning (1-0) has thrown 131/3 innings and has a sparkling ERA, 0.00.

SLOW START: Softball star second baseman Veronica Wootson , a second-team All-American last year and a candidate for national player of the year honors, is hitting only .190 (4 for 21) entering this weekend's Sunshine State Tournament at the Seminole Softball Complex. FSU (4-4) opens against South Carolina on Friday afternoon.

"She's in a major slump, but she'll break out of it," coach JoAnne Graf said.

ODDS AND ENDS: Junior Rafeeq Curry earned his third straight spot at the NCAA indoor track and field championship with a school record triple jump of 54 feet, 1/2 inch last weekend. That's the best mark in the nation this year. He will now look to defend his ACC triple jump indoor title at the conference championship meet today through Saturday. ... Former star wide receiver Ron Dugans (1996-99), who played for the Cincinnati Bengals for three seasons, has joined the FSU staff as an assistant strength and conditioning coach.

--Times staff writer Brian Landman covers Florida State. Reach him at 813 226-3347 or landman@sptimes.com

[Last modified February 17, 2005, 01:21:16]