Junior Ronni Williams, freshman Eleanna Christinaki and senior Carlie Needles (l to r) all made big shots in final quarter against Tennessee. (Jim Burgess/file photo)
Carter's Corner: Gators Show Spunk -- and Potential -- in Rare Win Over Lady Vols
Thursday, January 7, 2016 | Women's Basketball, Scott Carter
The game was tied after three quarters and if we're being honest, most of us who know the history between Florida and Tennessee in women's basketball figured if the Gators could keep it close down the stretch, it would be a good sign for the rest of the season.
The Gators did more than hang with the No. 12-ranked Lady Vols. They blew past them for a 74-66 win at Thompson-Boling Arena, Florida's first road win at Tennessee since Feb. 26, 2006. To be more specific, the Gators' only win at Tennessee prior to Thursday.
Florida stepped onto the court with a 3-48 all-time record against perennial power Tennessee, which included 21 losses in 22 games in Knoxville.
But as the fourth quarter unfolded Thursday night, it was the Gators making the big plays and hitting the clutch shots in one of the biggest wins for the program in recent years. And the Gators did it without their head coach, Amanda Butler, who was absent to deal with a family emergency.
First-year assistant Shimmy Gray-Miller coached the team and got the job done with the help of some solid performances, most notably the guard tandem of freshman Eleanna Christinaki and senior Carlie Needles.
Christinaki scored a team-high 18 points and added eight assists and six rebounds. Needles did what she does best, knocking down 5 of 8 from 3-point distance to finish with 15 points, four rebounds and three assists.
When the game was on the line in the final quarter, both made crucial baskets after Ronni Williams gave Florida a 59-58 lead with 7:49 left. On the Gators' next possession, Christinaki took a pass from Needles and scored on a layup for a 61-58 lead. Christinaki then grabbed a missed shot by Tennessee, rushed the ball up the court and dished to Needles, who drilled a 3-pointer for a 64-58 lead with 7 minutes remaining.
Tennessee never got to within four points the rest of the game.
The Gators return home with a 13-2 record and potential place in the national rankings next week. Coming off Sunday's loss at home to Mississippi State, which snapped Florida's 12-game win streak, a lot of people wondered if the Gators would begin to crumble as they dribbled deeper into the SEC schedule.
The win over Tennessee says otherwise. The Gators matched last season's win total during a 13-17 campaign that resulted in Butler revamping her coaching staff. More importantly, they look like a team that could add many more wins before the season is over.
The Gators did more than hang with the No. 12-ranked Lady Vols. They blew past them for a 74-66 win at Thompson-Boling Arena, Florida's first road win at Tennessee since Feb. 26, 2006. To be more specific, the Gators' only win at Tennessee prior to Thursday.
Florida stepped onto the court with a 3-48 all-time record against perennial power Tennessee, which included 21 losses in 22 games in Knoxville.
But as the fourth quarter unfolded Thursday night, it was the Gators making the big plays and hitting the clutch shots in one of the biggest wins for the program in recent years. And the Gators did it without their head coach, Amanda Butler, who was absent to deal with a family emergency.
First-year assistant Shimmy Gray-Miller coached the team and got the job done with the help of some solid performances, most notably the guard tandem of freshman Eleanna Christinaki and senior Carlie Needles.
Christinaki scored a team-high 18 points and added eight assists and six rebounds. Needles did what she does best, knocking down 5 of 8 from 3-point distance to finish with 15 points, four rebounds and three assists.
When the game was on the line in the final quarter, both made crucial baskets after Ronni Williams gave Florida a 59-58 lead with 7:49 left. On the Gators' next possession, Christinaki took a pass from Needles and scored on a layup for a 61-58 lead. Christinaki then grabbed a missed shot by Tennessee, rushed the ball up the court and dished to Needles, who drilled a 3-pointer for a 64-58 lead with 7 minutes remaining.
Tennessee never got to within four points the rest of the game.
The Gators return home with a 13-2 record and potential place in the national rankings next week. Coming off Sunday's loss at home to Mississippi State, which snapped Florida's 12-game win streak, a lot of people wondered if the Gators would begin to crumble as they dribbled deeper into the SEC schedule.
The win over Tennessee says otherwise. The Gators matched last season's win total during a 13-17 campaign that resulted in Butler revamping her coaching staff. More importantly, they look like a team that could add many more wins before the season is over.
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