Senior Brittany Davis (Gainesville, Fla.) totaled 20 points and led 10 Gators in the scoring column while helping the University of Florida women's basketball team defeat South Alabama, 74-57, Monday evening at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in front of 2,073 fans.
Davis shot 90 percent (9-10) from the floor en route to notching her sixth consecutive double-figure scoring game and helping the Gators improve to 6-1, the best seven-game start under fourth-year head coach Carolyn Peck.
Senior Danielle Santos (Marietta, Ga.) as well as freshman Marshae Dotson (Columbus, Ohio) also reached double-figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively, against the Jaguars. Senior Dalila Eshe (Tallahassee) had another solid performance with nine points and seven rebounds, while Sarah Lowe (Wynnewood, Pa.) added five points with six assists for the Gators, who shot a season-high 54 percent (27-50) from the floor, including a 65.4 percent clip in the second half.
“I was pleased with our defensive effort tonight,” Peck said. “After coming back following a win at Temple on Saturday night, we didn't practice yesterday because I wanted the girls to catch their legs a little bit and study some film. I want us to continue building on our confidence that we are playing with right now. I'm very pleased with what we are doing right now.”
The Jaguars (3-3) matched the Gators basket for basket throughout the game's first five minutes before UF broke open a 7-7 tie with a 12-2 run to push the score out to 19-9 with just under seven minutes remaining before the break.
Davis and Eshe combined for 11 of Florida's opening 15 points. The duo outscored the Jaguars entire team in the first 20 minutes as they combined for 17 first-half points. UF led 29-15 at the half after holding USA to 19.4 shooting from the field, including a dismal 8.3 percent (1-12) mark from beyond the arch.
It didn't take the Gators long to build on their lead in the second half, as the team came out and put together a 8-2 spurt in the first 2:30 of the half to extend their lead to 37-17. The Jaguars narrowed the margin in the second half as the Gators barely outscored them 45-42 in the final 20 minutes.
“Credit South Alabama for forcing us into a couple of tight positions,” Peck said. “They forced us into 20 turnovers, and we are going to have to go back and watch the film to figure out where we need to keep that from happening in future games. We're a better free throw shooting team than what we shot tonight. However, I'm pleased with the overall intensity the girls are showing right now.”
In the end, UF's defensive pressure and height under the basket proved to be too much for the Jaguars to handle as the Gators never led by fewer than 14 down the stretch. Florida forced 21 turnovers and outrebounded USA by a 36-30, including a 23-16 mark on the defensive boards.
JoAnne Williams led the Jaguars with 14 points, while Raena Eillis added 11 for USA which shot 34.5 percent (20-58) during the game and committed 21 turnovers that the Gators converted into 36 points.
“I'm looking forward to Friday night as we will play a Big Ten team in Illinois,” Peck added. “I'm excited about the game Friday night. It will be a big battle between the Big Ten and the SEC. We have got to continue playing with the same level of intensity as we prepare for SEC play.”
The Gators next will play host to Big Ten foe Illinois Friday, Dec. 9 as part of a double-header with the men's squad. Tipoff from the O'Connell Center is set for 6 p.m. EST. Billy Donovan's team will take on Bethune-Cookman at 8:30 p.m. Fans must purchase a $10 ticket for entrance into both games.
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