Florida Gators
Iowa
Women's Hoops' Late Rally Falls Short in Loss to Iowa, 65-62
Friday, November 26, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Danielle Santos scored a career-high 23 points with five rounds, but it wasn't enough to lead the University of Florida women's basketball against Iowa, as the Gators lost to the Hawkeyes 65-62 in the first round of the Junkanoo Jam held at St. Georges High School in the Grand Bahama Island.
Florida faces Akron (0-3) in the consolation game on Saturday at 1 p.m. Live audio of the game can be heard in Gainesville on WRUF AM850 and through the internet at GatorZone.com.
Florida, which is 0-2 for the first time since 1992-93, looks to avoid tying the worst start in program history with the 1979-80 squad that began the year losing its first three games of the season.
Friday's game was similar to UF's season-opening loss to Florida State, as the Gators again dug themselves a large deficit and staged a rally that fell just short. Another comparable stat from UF's first two games was that the Gators again outscored their opponent from the field - 57-53 - and the difference game at the free throw line, where Iowa (3-0) connected on 12-of-17, while UF was just 5-of-6. The Gators also were out-rebounded for the second straight game, losing the battle of the boards 39-35.
"I thought we had learned from the Florida State game that we can't wait until the second half to start playing," UF head coach Carolyn Peck said. "That's got to change. We've got to start making better choices on the court because we can't continue to fall so far behind and play catch-up the entire second half."
With Iowa holding a 45-31 lead with just over 14 minutes remaining, Tamia Williams scored six straight points to launch a 21-8 run over the next six and a half minutes, capped by a Santos' three-pointer, as the Gators were within one, 53-52, with 7:28 on the clock.
"I thought the freshman, Depree Bowden, really sparked that run," Peck said. "She played hard, tough defense and we got some easy transition points as a result."
But Iowa immediately responded with a 6-0 spree over the next two minutes and built its lead back to seven. Florida again used its defense to chop away at the deficit, as Bernice Mosby, who finished with 18 points, canned a jumper that started a 5-0 run and brought the Gators within two, 59-57, with 3:05 remaining.
After the teams traded baskets, Iowa's Crystal Smith hit the next two field goals that gave the Hawkeyes a little breathing room with 51 seconds on the clock. On UF's ensuing possession, Santos capitalized on the Gator's third straight offensive rebound by nailing a three-pointer from the left side and had UF within three, 65-62. Santos then stripped Smith on the other end of the floor and the Gators had the ball with 15 seconds remaining. UF set up a final play, but never got a good look as Tashia Morehead's last second attempt didn't connect. Morehead, who continues to nurse a strained right quadriceps she injured Nov. 17 during practice, played only the final 15 seconds of the game.
"In the first half Iowa out-worked us at all five positions. In the second half we were able to even things out by working a little harder and really focusing on boxing out and winning the hustle plays," Peck said.
Iowa took a 34-26 halftime lead as the Gators shot just 32.4 percent (11-34) from the floor and were outrebounded 23-14. The Hawkeyes shot 46.7 percent from the field thanks to several offensive rebound put-backs.
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