Sophomore guard Sha Brooks (Jackson, Tenn.) netted 19 points and collected a career-high nine steals to lead the University of Florida women's basketball team to a 72-55 victory over Stetson at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Monday night. The performance marked the 125th career win for Gators' head coach Carolyn Peck, as well as the team's 15th-consecutive non-conference triumph on its home court.
Brooks' 19 points led all scorers, while also hauling in five rebounds and dishing out a team-high three assists; her nine steals were also just one away from the school record. Junior guard Depree Bowden (Palmetto, Fla.) and sophomore guard Kim Critton (Memphis, Tenn.) both paced the Gators with six rebounds, a career-high effort for Critton. Sophomore center Jessica Jackson (Collierville, Tenn.) led all UF bench players with six points and a pair of rebounds.
“After having a week without a game and going through finals, I think that our team came together,” Peck said. “Sha Brooks did a good job for us on both ends of the floor. She did a good job of getting to open spots and knocking down mid-range shots.”
Florida (5-6) used a 12-2 run midway through the second half to take control of the game, opening a 53-37 lead with just over 11 minutes left in regulation. The Gators shot 44.4 percent (28-of-63) from the field during the contest, including a 54.2 percent effort in the second half, while also out-rebounding Stetson, 39-34. Sophomore forward Marshae Dotson (Columbus, Ohio) scored seven of her nine points in the second frame, including five during the game-opening run.
The Gators finished the first half on a 12-2 run, highlighted by a three-point field goal by Dotson as the buzzer sounded, to head to the locker room with a 37-25 advantage. Bowden scored seven points during the spurt, and finished the half with nine on 3-of-7 shooting. Brooks tallied during the opening frame with 13 points, pacing a UF attack that hit 5-of-11 shots (45.5 percent) from beyond the arc in the first half.
“We need to celebrate this win because everyone has something that they can be excited about,” Peck said. “We have to recognize the good things that we've done, and build on them. One of our team goals is to take care of our home, and we have a lot of pride when we play here.”
The Hatters were led by 14 points from guard Jamie Nesbit, as well as 13 from backcourt mate Kim Manning. Forward Janene Maclin and guard Kellie Olson each grabbed a team-high six boards, while Manning handed out a game-high four assists, for Stetson.
“Points off of turnovers were the difference in the game tonight,” Stetson head coach Dee Romine said. “I thought our matchup zones kept them off balance tonight, so our defense accomplished what we wanted. Florida's pressure wears on you and creates fatigue, and that makes it tough.”
Florida will return to action on Thursday, Dec. 21, when the Gators take on No. 16 Louisville (12-0) at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The action is scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m. EST, and the game can be seen on GatorVision Online.
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