Junior Bernice Mosby scored a season-high 27 points to lead the University of Florida women's basketball team to a 75-62 victory over Stetson on Wednesday night at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
The game, which was UF's five consecutive victory, marked the first time this season UF won after trailing at the half. Down 38-36, the Gators (5-2) opened the second half by hitting their first 10 shots to spark a 14-2 run that would give them a lead they would not give back. Five different players contributed to the run while six different players combined to hit UF's first 10 shots. It wasn't until the middle of the half that the Gators missed a shot.
Stetson (1-4) managed to stay within five points with 13 minutes remaining in the game until seniors Tamia Williams and Tashia Morehead hit back-to-back shots, including a three from Williams, to push the UF lead up to 10. Stetson would not get closer than nine points the remainder of the game.
Mosby put on a personal clinic, shooting 11-of-15 from the floor while having team-highs with eight rebounds, two blocks and a steal. On her final basket, Mosby had a behind-the-back lay up on a fast break to put the crowd on its feet.
"Bernice did a very good job inside being aggressive both offensively and defensively," UF head coach Carolyn Peck said.
Junior Danielle Santos also had a double-digit night in points scored with 10, while tying the team high in rebounds with eight and dishing four assists. Senior Tishona Gregory also had a solid overall night, tallying four rebounds and a team-high five assists while scoring four points.
Stetson was led by senior Kristy Brown who played a game-high 39 minutes for the Hatters on her way to notching a double-double with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore Kim Manning contributed 12 points and a game-high six assists for Stetson.
"There was a five-minute period in the middle of the second half where we took some early shots [UF] was able to convert on," Stetson head coach Dee Romine said. "That Mosby was the difference in the ball game."
Both teams enjoyed runs throughout the first half, with Stetson going on a 13-2 run early in the game before UF responded with 9-2 and 12-2 runs later in the half. Still, the Hatters managed to go into halftime with a two-point lead, due in large part to Brown's play.
"Stetson's a good ball club – much better than we've seen on film" Peck said. "Kristy Brown showed some good plays inside and out."
Stetson had an overwhelming 15-8 offensive rebound advantage in the first half, leading to 15 second-chance points in comparison to UF's six. But UF closed the gap in the second half, with every player on the roster grabbing at least two rebounds by game's end as the Gators finished with a 48-39 rebounding edge.
The Gators also stepped up defensively, recording a team season-high 10 blocks, including a career-high five from junior Dalila Eshe. UF has held its opponents to less than 40 percent shooting from the field during its five-game win streak.
The Gators are in action again on Sunday when they host Oregon State at 1 p.m.
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