Florida committed a season-high 27 turnovers and shot only 36.1 percent in a disappointing 82-68 loss to Arkansas Sunday afternoon in front of 1,353 at the O'Connell Center.
Arkansas (16-9, 5-7 SEC) struggled to a 13.5 percent shooting mark in the first half, hitting only 5-of-37 from the floor, but trailed just 35-28 at halftime as the Gators (16-9, 6-6 SEC) couldn't take advantage of the Lady Razorbacks shooting woes by committing 16 turnovers. Arkansas shooting percentage in the first half was the lowest in school history against an SEC opponent, but the Razorbacks were never out of the game and even ended the half on a 10-4 drive, which featured a buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the half. Arkansas carried that momentum into the second half, when the Razorbacks shot 65.2 percent in the final period outscoring UF 54-33.
"We had some breakdowns at the end (of the first half)," UF head coach Carolyn Peck said. "They got some offensive rebounds and put-backs. We didn't take advantage of opportunities that we had. I think in the first half, we did play very good defense. We boxed out strong, but then we didn't come down and convert offensively, only shooting 39 percent. We got to the free throw line, but we didn't finish like we needed to."
The Gators held Shameka Christon to just three points in the first half, but the SEC's leading scorer went wild in the second frame, scoring 22 of her game-high 25 points. Kristen Peoples and Rochelle Vaughn each scored 18 points for the Razrobacks.
UF led 33-18 with 3:07 remaining in the first half after Brittany Davis converted a layup. But that's when Arkansas began its comeback, staging a 25-6 run that extended into the second half and lasted over eight minutes to take a 43-39 lead. Vanessa Hayden then sank a pair of free throws to get the Gators within two points, but Arkansas used a 18-7 spree over the next seven minutes and never looked back.
UF's Hayden logged her 15th double-double of the season with a team-high 16 points in addition to a game-high 11 rebounds and five blocks. Danielle Santos was the only other Gator scoring in double-figures, netting 12 points.
Again, the Gators outrebounded their opponent, 47-41, marking the ninth straight game UF has won the rebounding battle.
The entire game was sloppy, with the teams combining for 59 fouls and getting to the free throw line 83 times. Arkansas was 38-of-54 from the charity stripe, while UF was 23-of-29.
The Gators will try to half their four-game losing streak on Thursday, February 26, when the team plays host to No. 18 Georgia.
Post-Game Quotes
FLORIDA
Head Coach Carolyn Peck:
Opening statement:
"You've got to compliment Arkansas. I think they did a great job in the second half of staying composed as a team. Shameka Christon played with great leadership and great focus. She scored 22 of 25 points in the second half. I think that Arkansas did a very good job of attacking the basket and getting themselves to the free throw line - 54 times. We fouled. This is not a question of we didn't - we did. Defensive intensity is something that Arkansas stepped up big and when they got to the free throw line they finished and they hit big shots. They played hard and they played to come get a win and that's what they did."
On whether Florida should have had a larger halftime lead:
"Probably so. We had some breakdowns at the end. They got some offensive rebounds and put-backs. We didn't take advantage of opportunities that we had. I think in the first half, we did play very good defense. We boxed out strong, but then we didn't come down and convert offensively, only shooting 39 percent. We got to the free throw line, but we didn't finish like we needed to."
Center Vanessa Hayden:
On staying positive through losses:
"I think it's hard as a player to stay positive through so many losses. It's very frustrating. But you have to find some kind of way to overcome that and keep fighting."
ARKANSAS
Head coach Susie Gardner:
Opening statement:
"Obviously that first half was a lot different than the second half. I felt like Rochelle (Vaughn's) shot at halftime at the buzzer really gave us some momentum going into the break. Nothing seemed to be working. We were getting open shots and they just weren't falling. But I told the team that we were going to shoot better in the second half and to keep fighting and things started bouncing our way and rebounds started going our way. I'm really proud of the way our team kept fighting."
On Shameka Christon's play in the second half:
"I think in January we would have lost this game, but we've been in this situation so many times that we decided that we weren't going to let that happen. In terms of Shameka, I think she was 0-for-9 in the first half and I certainly didn't bring it to her attention that she was 0-for-9, but I did say that she would shoot the ball better in the second half. What we tried to do was run some set plays to her to get her going. She hit that first shot off the set play and once she gets confident and she gets going, she's pretty hard to stop."
On Vanessa Hayden:
"She pretty much scores when she gets the ball. She got a lot of offensive rebounds, which seemed to hurt us more than just them pounding the ball into her. We fouled her almost every time she got an offensive board. We're very, very thin at that position and (Kristin) Moore is only about 6-foot-1. Our objective was to keep her from getting the ball and then we started extending our defense and that's kind of what turned the game around - when we got some deflections and steals and layups, but she is a phenomenal player. She is very special."
Forward Shameka Christon:
On Arkansas pushing the ball more in the second half:
"We were trying to push the ball in the first half. I think foul trouble took us out of pushing in the first half."
On Arkansas being more aggressive in the second half:
"That's our game plan all the time. We're always trying to play pressure defense and get in passing lanes, especially today when (Vanessa) Hayden wasn't in. But if she was in, we were in more of a sagging man trying to help out because she's a great player. That is something that we're always supposed to do - get out in the passing lanes and try and get some steals."
END OF REPORT
