Florida gave 15th-ranked Vanderbilt all it could handle in the opening round of the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament, but the gritty Gators couldn't pull off the upset in a 74-58 loss Thursday evening at ALLTEL Arena.
The difference was a 13-1 run the Commodores used in the early stages of the second half after 11th-seeded Florida (9-18) was within four, 38-34, and clutch outside shooting by sixth-seeded Vanderbilt (20-8), which shot 59.6 percent from the floor, including 10-of-14 from the 3-point line.
Florida attempted 23 more shots than Vanderbilt, but just couldn't get the ball to fall, hitting just 30.0 percent (21-of-70) during the game. The Gators also led the rebounding battle 36-31, limiting Vanderbilt to five on the offensive end.
During the game, which was much closer than the final score indicated, junior Vanessa Hayden became the 17th Gator to record 1000 career points, as she led Florida with 18 points and seven rebounds. Tamia Williams also tallied double-figures, netting 10 points with four assists. Bernice Mosby, who was named to the SEC All-Freshmen Team, recorded seven points with a game-high 10 rebounds.
"Vanderbilt has some great shooters and when they had the opportunity they knocked down the three-point shots," UF head coach Carolyn Peck said. "We had 23 more field goal attempts, we just couldn't finish. I think our youthfullness showed and nerves came out. I think we were very focused and prepared for this game, the ball just wouldn't fall for us."
The Gators return 10 of their 12 scholarship players next season, as UF featured only two seniors in Trish Patterson and Courtney Cooper, who ended her season early with a knee injury.
Abi Ramsey led the defending SEC Tournament champions from the perimeter, scoring 19 points that included a 5-for-6 effort from the 3-point arc. All-American Chantelle Anderson tallied 15 of her 19 points in the first half, shooting 7-of-9 from the field.
Vanessa Hayden scored the first bucket of the second half and got the Gators within four, 38-24, but Vanderbilt went on a 13-1 run and began to distance itself with a 16-point lead, 61-35. Like they have done all season, the young Gators refused to give up, and responded with a 6-0 run with four points from Tishona Gregory and a pair of free throws from Bernice Mosby. Vanderbilt hit timely outside shots the remainder of the way and kept the Gators from making any more significant runs.
Tara Taylor opened the game hitting a 3-pointer from the right corner, but Vanderbilt countered with an 8-0 run to take a quick 8-3 lead in the first 3:39 of the game. However, Taylor hit a 12-footer and Tamia Williams canned a trey to beat the shot clock to tie the game. On the Commodores next possession, Abi Ramsey nailed a 3-pointer to spark a 10-0 spree, as the Gators struggled from the floor, hitting just 3-of-17 shots, while Vandy's lead grew to eight points, 18-8. The majority of the UF's first 17 shots came from within two feet of the basket, so the 17.6 percent accuracy mark came at an agonizing rate.
The Gators clawed back and Sarah Lowe's 3-pointer brought Florida within five, 26-21, with just under five minutes remaining in the half. Shortly afterward, VU All-American Chantelle Anderson converted a three-point play, but Kelly Stevenson answered with another 3-pointer that sparked a 11-5 run with points from Bernice Mosby, Tamia Williams and Tishona Gregory to get the Gators within two, 34-32, with 1:15 left.
Vanderbilt closed the first period scoring the final four points to take a 38-32 lead into the locker room. Florida regrouped from its early shooting woes to finish the half hitting 12-of-36 for 33.3 percent. The Commodores sank an impressive 60.9 percent of their shots, 14-of-23. The Gators forced nine Vandy turnovers, while committing just five of their own. UF also held a 16-14 rebounding advantage over their taller foes.
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