Freshman LaToya Bullard scored a career-high 18 points and led Florida's second-half rally which came up short as the Gators lost to Florida State 88-66 Friday afternoon at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.
After dominating the first half with three significant runs, Florida State began the second period with a 14-3 spree to extend its lead to 37 points, 65-28, with 15:40 remaining in the game. That's when things started to click for the young Gators, who mounted a strong run of their own, ripping off a 28-6 run during the next nine-plus minutes that cut the significant deficit to 16 points, 71-55, with 6:31 left. Marshae Dotson and LaToya Bullard came alive during the stretch, as Dotson scored nine points and Bullard seven. Kim Dye, Briana Phillips and Sharielle Smith also added buckets during the run, as Florida used a smoothing full court press that caused multiple Seminole (5-0) turnovers.
The teams played even basketball the rest of the game, but Florida (2-4) couldn't overcome the big hole it got itself into during the first half and the opening minutes of the second period.
“We just dug ourselves too deep of a hole and we just couldn't recover from the first half,” UF head coach Carolyn Peck said. “Both teams started the game playing aggressive defense; one team handled it well and the other didn't. Unfortunately, we didn't. We avoided contact and I was real disappointed with our shot selection in the first half.”
“In the second half, we had a group of players on the floor who wanted to battle and compete hard,” Peck continued. “They were aggressive and forced turnovers. Their shot selection was better and Florida State wasn't able to get any transition points off of them like they did in the first half.”
Bullard, who hit 6 of her nine shots attempts, also contributed two assists and a pair of steals for the Gators, who shot just 34.2 percent for the game, but 40 percent in the second half when they out-scored the Seminoles, 41-37.
Dotson tallied 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting, with six rebounds and four steals before fouling out. Jessica Jackson collected a team-high eight rebounds, as UF dropped the rebounding battle 47-37, but was even on the boards during the second frame when they also forced the Noles into 10 turnovers.
Shante Williams led FSU with 21 points, while Alicia Gladden added 18 that included a 12-of-15 effort from the free throw line, where the Seminoles were 26-of-40 for the game.
UF's Marshae Dotson hit the first bucket of the game, but Florida State countered with an 11-0 run over the next three-plus minutes and jumped out to a 13-2 lead. Depree Bowden stopped the run by putting back an offensive rebound. After a pair of FSU free throws, Briana Phillips ran the floor and collected a long pass from Bowden to convert the fast break and spark a 5-0 spree that got the Gators within six, 15-9, with just over 14 minutes left in the half.
The teams traded baskets, with LaToya Bullard grabbing a defensive rebound and dribbling coast to coast before dropping in a nifty layin at the 12-minute mark to keep the Gators within six points, 17-11.
Florida State then ripped off a devastating 17-0 run over the next three minutes to extend its lead to 23 points, 34-11. The young Gators refused to fold and mounted a 10-2 march that included field goals from Jessica Jackson, Marshae Dotson, Brittaney Thomas and Sha Brooks, forcing the Seminoles to call a timeout as Florida closed the gap to 15 points, 36-21, with 5:42 left in the period.
The hosting Noles regrouped after the 30-second break and ended the half on a 15-4 run to take a commanding 51-23 lead into the locker room.
Florida shot just 28.2 percent (11-39) from the floor during the opening half, while FSU hit 58.1 percent (18-31) and built a 27-17 rebounding edge. The Gators committed 11 turnovers, which the Seminoles converted into 14 points while also holding a 12-2 advantage in fast-break points. Florida did hold its own in the paint despite being undersized, as the taller Noles held just a 16-14 edge.
The Gators return to action on Monday when they play host to Morehead State in the O'Connell Center beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The game can be heard live in Gainesville on WRUF 850-AM and on the internet at www.GatorZone.com.
Monday will be Fan Appreciation Day and head coach Carolyn Peck and all 12 Gator players will be available to fans for autographs following the game. It also will be 'Dollar Night' with all General Admission tickets just $1 and select concession items $1.
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