Marshae Dotson powered in 22 points with a game-high 15 rebounds, but it wasn't enough as the Florida women's basketball team fell just short of upsetting No. 20 (AP)/21 (ESPN-USA Today Coaches') Florida State, 81-78, Friday evening in the O'Connell Center.
“Obviously, we are very disappointed," UF head coach Amanda Butler said. "We played well enough for about 37, 36 maybe 35 minutes to win the ball game, but it goes for 40. Florida State made plays when we didn't. They capitalized on our mistakes. We have to learn from it and get better. They are a good basketball team, but I was proud of the way we fought."
Despite trailing by nine points with 2:37 left on the clock, the Gators (3-2) turned in an 8-2 run to pull within four with 57.4 seconds left on the clock. Sha Brooks took the ball the length of the floor and just barely missed a fast break lay up attempt, but Sharielle Smith was there for the rebound and was fouled on the possession. Smith hit both of her free throws to pull the Gators to within two, 78-76, with 42 seconds remaining.
The Seminoles' Shante Williams sank a short jumper, and Florida answered when Dotson connected with Brittaney Thomas for two points with five seconds remaining. The Gators were forced to foul and FSU's Mara Freshour hit one of two free throws, leaving the Gators down three with under five seconds remaining. Bowden was forced to put up a 3-pointer that hit the rim and just missed.
Dotson, who posted her second straight double-double and third in four games, was joined in double figures by Brooks, who finished with 13 points, and Depree Bowden, who added 17 for the Gators. Florida shot 49.2-percent from the floor for the game, including draining 8-of-17 three-pointers.
FSU's Tanae Davis-Cain led all scorers with 27 points, hitting 5-of-10 from the three-point arc, while Jacinta Monroe added 14 points and Williams dropped in 11.
The Gators lost to Florida State (5-1) by 22 points in last year's meeting, but Butler, who is in her first year coaching Florida, did not find comfort in the closer outcome.
"Moral victories are something that exist in other competitions, but not in this one," Butler said. "We are not measured or rewarded by getting close, especially when we were in position to win. Should we be confident that we know we can beat good teams? No doubt about it. This is a game that we expected to win."
Florida outscored FSU 33-20 through the second portion of the first half. Dotson led the way for the Gators, dropping in 16 points. She also helped her own cause, pulling down six rebounds while going 4-of-7 from the line for the half.
After trading the lead in the early minutes, FSU jumped out to a 12-2 run before the Gators responded, going on a 12-2 run of their own to cause a six point swing and take the lead. The Seminoles took a three point lead with 7:15 remaining, but Lonnika Thompson found the answer for the Gators, draining a jumper to cut the lead to one.
Florida would find the basket seven more times over the course of the next 3:16, as the Gators took a seven-point lead. Two free throws by Dotson capped a 12-7 run for the Gators. FSU would make a final push at the end of the half, but Florida responded, taking a four-point lead into the half at 41-37.
Florida returns to action on Monday, November 26, when the team plays host to Stetson, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. at the O'Connell Center. There will be live video streaming of the game through www.GatorZone.com, while the radio broadcast can be hear in Gainesville on WRUF 850AM and on the official website of the Florida Gators, GatorZone.com.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Florida vs. Florida State
Post-Game Quotes
Florida Head Coach Amanda Butler
On the game:
“Obviously, we are very disappointed. We played well enough for about 37, 36 maybe 35 minutes to win the ball game, but it goes for 40. Florida State made plays when we didn't. They capitalized on our mistakes. We have to learn from it and get better. They are a good basketball team, but I was proud of the way we fought.”
On the loss:
“It's a negative, because we loss. We don't play to get close. Moral victories are something that exist in other competitions, but not in this one. We are not measured or rewarded by getting close, especially when we were in position to win. Should we be confident that we know we can beat good teams? No doubt about it. This is a game that we expected to win.”
Florida Senior Depree Bowden
On the final shot of the game:
“I just remember Brittaney [Thomas] coming down with it and I just shot it because I knew time was running out. I didn't quite get the look that I wanted to, but I knew I had to shoot it. It felt good, it just didn't go in”
Florida Junior Marshae Dotson
What the Gators learned from this game:
“Basically, we have to go from the get-go. We had spurts where we looked tired, like Coach said. We just have to keep going.”
Florida State Head Coach Sue Semrau
Opening Statement:
“We felt like Florida was playing harder than we were. We had to match their intensity in order to win the basketball game and we had to get more possessions. There is nothing you can do when you are playing without your starting center and two others in foul trouble. Florida did a good job of taking it to those players. They were out of the game for a significant amount of time. I just can't say enough about the play of Tanae Davis-Cain. She attacked on the offensive end and she guarded Marshae Dotson on the defensive end. That is something we haven't had her do a whole lot with bigger post players and I thought she did a great job in the second half.”
Florida State Junior Guard Mara Freshour
On beating rival UF:
“We always anticipate it to be a tough game. We don't pay attention to the rankings or stuff like that. It's an in-state rivalry as the coaches always say. We know that it just doesn't matter. Everybody's going to bring their best in such a rivalry. We expect their best and we expect the best out of our players as well, so we come out and play hard. Especially a game like tonight when the guy's game is right after it and they're bringing in crazy fans. We're not use to that big of a crowd. That's a good experience and a learning curve for us because we're shooting for some bigger things where there's going to be some bigger crowds.”
END OF REPORT
