Senior Brandi McCain scored all of her game-high 21 points in the second half to lead No. 14 Florida to a thrilling 74-73 victory over Ole Miss at the Tad Smith Coliseum. The win snapped the Lady Gator's two-game losing streak and improved UF's overall record to 16-6, including a 6-4 mark in the SEC. Ole Miss fell to 11-13 overall, 3-8 in the league.
Florida led by 10 points with 1:31 remaining and held on for the one-point victory.
"A win is a win in the SEC," said UF head coach Carol Ross, who is now 11-2 all-time against her alma mater. "Ole Miss gave us everything we could handle and more tonight. We're just pleased to leave with another SEC road win, which are so difficult to come by."
McCain, who also finished with seven assists and four steals, hit 7-of-7 from the free throw line down the stretch to preserve the win.
"Even thought McCain didn't score in the first half, she really kept us in the game after Vanessa got in foul trouble," Ross said. "She got her teammates involved and played like the All-American she is."
Vanessa Hayden scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half, while grabbing a team-high nine rebounds. Hayden registered one block in the game, which was her 100th this season. Monique Cardenas also tallied double-figures, scoring 14 in the win.
Junior Trish Patterson scored a career-high nine points in the win, helping Florida's post game when Hayden went to the bench early in the first half with foul trouble.
Florida shot 51.5 percent in the second half, as shooting a woeful 31.4 percent in the opening period. UM shot 38.1 percent during the game, including a 7-of-14 effort from the 3-point line.
Florida built a 10-point lead, 70-60, after Courtney Cooper hit a jumper from the corner as the shot clock expired with 1:31 remaining in the game. But Ole Miss came storming back with some clutch free throw shooting and pair of deep 3-pointers by Sherika Wright as the Lady Rebels closed the gap to two with 72-70 with 20 seconds remaining. Brandi McCain then nailed a pair of free throws to extend UF's lead to four. But Von Kirk came right back and launched a trey with 10.2 seconds on the clock to cut UF's to one. Tara Taylor was fouled, but missed both free throw attempts. However the Lady Gators came up with the offensive rebound, but then put up two shots, which they missed. As Ole Miss collected the final attempt with a final chance to win the game, but Carletta Brown's shot from half-court fell short as the Lady Gators escaped with the win.
Ole Miss led 30-28 early in the second half before Florida used an 8-0 run to take a six-point lead, of which it would not relinquish.
Von Kirk and Saundra Jackson both scored 16 points for Ole Miss in a losing effort.
Florida opened the game with a 6-0 run, but Ole Miss came storming back with a 12-2 spree with six points from Saundra Jackson to take a 12-8 lead eight minutes into the opening half. The Lady Gators battled back and got within one point, 16-15, after Tara Taylor's three-point play, but the Lady Rebels scored the next five points to take a 21-15 advantage.
Trish Patterson scored the game's next four points and launched a 11-2 run for the Lady Gators, who regained the lead (25-23). UM's Jackson hit a layup and Tywanna Inmon followed with a bucket with 2:04 remaining as the Lady Rebels managed a 27-26 advantage. Each team had several scoring opportunities in the final two minutes, but only Florida could manage to hit the net, as Patterson tallied one free throw with three seconds remaining to end the first half with the scored tied at 27-all.
Both teams shot dreadfully from the floor in the first half, as UF managed just 31.4 percent (11-of-35) of its shots and UM hit 31.0 percent (9-of-29). The Lady Rebels turned the ball over 11 times, while the Lady Gators committed seven miscues.
Florida next plays host to Kentucky on Thurs., Feb. 14 in the O'Connell Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.
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