Junior guard Sha Brooks scored a team-high 16 points helping Florida earn a scrappy 54-50 victory over Stetson on Monday evening at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
The Gators (4-2) struggled with their shot from the floor the entire game, hitting just 32.1 percent (17-53) overall, including a mere 25 percent (6-24) in the second half, by staving off a late Hatter rally from the free throw line, where Florida was 17-of-23, including a perfect 10-for-10 effort from Brooks.
Brooks' driving layup with 10:10 remaining gave the Gators a 47-31 lead, but that was the last field goal Florida would convert, as Stetson (1-5) ended the game with a 19-7 run.
“I was really proud of (Brooks) stepping up even when the threes were not falling," said UF head coach Amanda Butler, whose team made 7-of-11 from the charity stripe in the final 10 minutes to earn the win. "Sha found a way to get points. You have to admire her fight.”
Junior forward Marshae Dotson was the only other Gator to tally a double-figure scoring effort, contributing 10 points along with eight rebounds. Sophomore Sharielle Smith collected a team-high 11 rebounds, helping Florida out-rebound the Hatters, 45-38.
“We are pleased that we won. The way that we finished the ball game is disappointing," Butler said. "We are still searching for a high level of consistency and intensity. We didn't carry that through for 40 minutes and that was what we were trying to do for in this ball game. You have to give Stetson a lot of credit. They gave us a great fight. They came in ready to play. They hit shots."
Tierra Brown led Stetson with 22 points on 9-of-27 shooting, as the Hatters hit just 33.8 percent (22-65) from the floor. Sharnessha Smith snared 11 rebounds and dished a game-high eight assists, just shot just 1-of-11.
Florida returns to the court on Wednesday, when the Gators play their third game in five days, facing Jacksonville (4-2) at Veteran's Memorial Arena. The game, which is the first half of a Dolphins' basketball doubleheader, tips-off at 5:30 p.m. The radio broadcast of the game can be heard live in Gainesville on WRUF AM850 on live through the official website of the Florida Gators, www.GatorZone.com.
Florida vs. Stetson Post-Game Quotes
Monday, November 26, 2007
Florida Head Coach Amanda Butler
“We are pleased that we won. The way that we finished the ball game is disappointing. We are still searching for a high level of consistency and intensity. We didn't carry that through for 40 minutes and that was what we were trying to do for in this ball game. You have to give Stetson a lot of credit. They gave us a great fight. They came in ready to play. They hit shots."
"We had a little trouble scoring tonight. Our shots weren't falling and we didn't pick up the slack in defense like we should have. The last three minutes of the game have to be better. We have to close it out.”
“Stetson gave us a great fight and came in here with every intention of knocking off the Gators.”
“A fight to the end is what you are going to get if you don't commit to defense for 40 minutes.”
Florida Guard Sha Brooks
“I didn't shoot well but Coach told me to start penetrating the basket more and try to create something and try to make it to the free throw line.”
On low three-point percentage on the night
“I hate missing three's. You have to do something that's different like pass the ball a little and play some defense to pick up the slack.”
Stetson Head Coach Dee Romine
“Our focus was trying to neutralize the perimeter game a little bit. We really were giving up a lot of size inside, but we felt like if we could neutralize the perimeter game we could take our chances with the inside play. We made runs, and defensively I thought our ball team did really well. We played in spurts offensively and we play a lot of young kids, but I think as we grow and get better we won't play in as many spurts as we are now. Overall, it was a great game. I liked our tenacity and that we didn't quit, played right up until the buzzer.”
END OF REPORT
