Senior Depree Bowden (Palmetto, Fla.) and junior Sha Brooks (Jackson, Tenn.) scored 15 points apiece leading a balanced offense in Florida's 66-52 victory over Holy Cross in the first round of the 17th Annual State Farm Classic on Friday at the O'Connell Center.
The Gators (8-4) will play Alabama A&M in the championship game on Saturday beginning at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs (2-6) defeated UNC Asheville, 66-63, in their opening round game, jumping out to a 15-point lead before staving off a furious rally to capture the three-point victory. Holy Cross (4-7) and Asheville (7-6) meet in the consolation game beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Florida has reached the State Farm Classic championship game all 17 times the event has been played, winning the title 13 times.
In Friday's win, four Gators tallied a double-figure scoring effort en route to the team's fourth consecutive victory. Junior Marshae Dotson (Columbus, Ohio) and sophomore Sharielle Smith (Bradenton, Fla.) joined Bowden and Brooks by contributing 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Brooks and junior Aneika Henry (Coconut Grove, Fla.) collected eight rebounds each, while Bowden added seven and Lonnika Thompson (New Orleans, La.) snared a career-high six, as Florida also won the battle in the paint, out-rebounding Holy Cross, 48-33, and dominating the offensive glass, 20-5.
Bethany O'Dell was Holy Cross' lone player in double-figures, netting 12 points.
After building a 39-21 halftime advantage, Florida's largest lead at intermission this season, the Crusaders used an 11-6 run early the second half and shaved their deficit to eight points, 44-36, with 14:53 remaining.
The Gators, however, countered with key shots and apply defensive pressure, staging a 19-5 run over the next nine-plus minutes to take a 63-41 lead and put the game out of reach. Dotson started the spree with a power layin in the paint and Brittaney Thomas (Montgomery, Ala.) answered a Crusader bucket with a slashing layup of her own, as Brooks, Smith, Bowden and Thompson all contributed during the game-changing run.
“Holy Cross was in the NCAA Tournament a year ago, and anytime you can beat a team of that caliber, it has got to be a confidence builder for you team,” Florida head coach Amanda Butler said. “They have a fantastic coach who has been there a long time, and beating a quality team like the one we faced tonight has got to be a good thing for our club. Anytime you can out rebound a team by 15, especially on the offensive end, you have to be proud as a coach."
In the opening half, Bowden led all scorers as the only player in double-figures, registering 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting and six rebounds. Florida wrapped the first frame with a 16-6 run, highlighted by a pair of three-pointers from Smith.
END OF REPORT
