In front of a record sell-out crowd of 12,222 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center the sixth-ranked University of Florida women's basketball team fell to second ranked Tennessee 103-73 to drop its record to 20-3 overall and 8-2 in the Southeastern Conference. The win improves the Lady Vols record to 25-1, 11-0 in the SEC.
The crowd was the fifth-largest ever to see a Florida basketball game in the O'Connell Center.
Florida started the game quick with junior
Monique Cardenas (Keystone Heights, Fla./Keystone Heights H.S.) scoring the Gators' first five points. They fell behind early in the first half by nine points at 30-21 until Florida went on a mini 4-0 lead to cut the lead to 30-25 with 8:20 remaining.
Despite shooting 37.5% from the field and only making 12-of-32 field goals in the first the Gators trailed 41-39 entering the locker room. Florida closed the half with a 11-3 run to cut the deficit to two capped by a running 15-footer by senior
Tombi Bell (Miami,Fla./Miami H.S.) as the buzzer sounded.
"We had it setup for a great game and for the first twenty minutes it was all that, but for the last 20 minutes it was all Tennessee," Florida Head Coach Carol Ross said. "They did a great job all night of rebounding the basketball."
The second half started with Tennessee going on a quick 22-8 run in the first six minutes to expand the lead to 63-47 with 14:00 remaining. Tennessee continued to build on the lead throughout the first half as the Gators struggled offensively.
With Florida's post players plagued by foul trouble the entire second half, Tennessee was able to take advantage inside. They outrebounded the Gators 47-37 and had 21 offensive rebounds. The Volunteers were also able to block eight shots. The 100 points Tennessee scored were the most against the Gators since January 4, 1992, when Alabama scored 101 in a 103-101 double-overtime loss to Florida.
"Obviously it was a great game. I was proud of how we came out and won on the road. Both teams have been imposing in the front line and that was the key," said Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt. "I thought we worked the boards much better, both offensively and defensively."
Tennessee's constant man-to-man pressure forced 22 Florida turnovers and Florida managed to only shoot 24-of-63 from the field for the game for 38.1%.
Junior guard
Brandi McCain (Silsbee, Tex./Silsbee H.S.) led the Gators with 18 points. Senior
Tamara Stocks (Pinkerington, OH/Pickerington H.S.) added 16 points despite fouling out midway through the second half. She scored 12 points in the first half. She also led the Gators on the glass with 10 rebounds. Also scoring in double figures was Cardenas with 16 and Bell scored 11 points.
The Gators will return to action Thursday, Feb. 15 when the travel to Oxford, Miss. to take on the Rebels. They will return home Sunday, Feb. 18, against Mississippi State.
