Playing at home for the first time in 20 days made all the difference for Florida's sophomore center Azania Stewart (Wood Green, England) on Sunday, when for the second consecutive game inside the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Stewart turned in a career night, scoring a personal-best 18 points in leading the Gators to a 62-35 win against Southern University in the first round of the Gator Holiday Classic.
Florida (5-5), which won back-to-back games for the first time this season, used several prolific scoring runs in its first contest in nine days, following a break from competition for final examinations.
“It was a good win tonight,” Florida head coach Amanda Butler said. “It's fantastic to be back at home, which feels really good for us. For us to carry out a great defensive game plan as we did tonight was very rewarding.”
The Gators allowed the Jaguars just 13 second-half points and Southern shot just 13.5 percent (5-of-37) from the floor in the final period. For the game, Florida connected on 44.7 percent (21-of-47) of its shots, while Southern shot at a 20.3 percent (14-of-29) clip.
Stewart, who is averaging 17.5 points in her last two home contests, eclipsed her previous career high of 17 points, achieved in the team's last home game against Florida A&M on Dec. 1. Her 18 points came on 8-of-10 shooting.
“It's great to be home, but we've been practicing for a week straight,” Stewart said. “It's great to get out and compete against another team other than ourselves.”
Each of the 13 Florida players who suited up for the game saw playing time, including senior guard Jennifer Mossor (Orlando, Fla.), who logged her first playing time since Jan. 8, 2009. Mossor, who checked in at the 7:15 mark of the opening half, has been plagued by an assortment injuries over the past few seasons. Junior Ebonie Crawford (Decatur, Ga.) also saw her first game action of the season, coming back from Achilles tendonitis and playing three minutes.
Senior forward Sharielle Smith (Bradenton, Fla.) scored eight points and brought down eight rebounds, while freshman forward Jennifer George (Orlando, Fla.) brought down a career-high nine rebounds, including four on the offensive end.
Sophomore forward Ndidi Madu (Antioch, Tenn.) blocked two shots and came up with a career-high three steals, to complement six rebounds. Sophomore guard Jordan Jones (Suwanee, Ga.) added eight points, including two 3-pointers, to go with a career-high tying five assists.
The Gators took a 30-22 advantage into the locker room at intermission after shooting 44.0 percent (11-of-25) from the floor, including five 3-pointers. The Jaguars were limited to just 28.1 percent (9-of-32) from the field and were out-rebounded 24-15.
Florida scored nine of the game's first 12 points, capped off by a Steffi Sorensen (Jacksonville, Fla.) 3-pointer at the 16:33 mark of the opening period. Southern began chipping away at its deficit and utilized a 7-0 run over the next two-plus minute to go in front 10-9. A Stewart lay-up stopped the Gators' scoring streak before Butler checked in a smaller, speedier lineup that included Trumae Lucas (Greensboro, N.C.) and George.
Jones knocked down a 3-pointer and Lucas followed with a trey of her own to expand Florida's lead to 17-10 with 11:53 left in the half. The Gators widened their advantage to 21-13 at the 6:38 mark after a resounding 3-pointer by Jones, but Florida gave up back-to-back baskets in less than a five-second span in a defensive breakdown to bring the Jaguars within four, 21-17. The two teams traded baskets for much of the remainder of the half.
Both teams started slow in the second half, but Florida used a 13-2 run over the first 6:32 of the final period to push its edge out to 19, 43-24, with 13:28 left in the game. The Gators kept adding to their lead to go ahead by 21, 50-29, on a three-point play by George with 8:53 remaining.
Southern (6-3), a member of the Southwest Athletic Conference, was led by Tenesha Brown's team-high eight points.
“I thought we really got down on ourselves because our shooters, who would normally give us our lift, didn't do as good of a job,” Southern head coach Sandy Pugh said. “I thought that Florida picked up the pressure in the second half and we didn't do a really good job in transition defense or taking care of the basketball. I don't think it was as much of what Florida did to us as what we didn't do. You have games like that. We expect our seniors to step up and show leadership. It's a learning experience and we'll be back on again tomorrow.”
Florida returns to action Monday, when it plays in the championship of the Gator Holiday Classic against High Point, which defeated William & Mary, 66-58, in the other first-round game. The Tribe will play Southern U. at 4:30 p.m. in the consolation game, while the Gators and Panthers are set to tip-off at 7 p.m. ET, and the game will be carried live on WBXY-FM (The Star 99.5 in Gainesville) and thru the internet at www.GatorZone.com, the official website of the Florida Gators. Streaming video of the game also will be broadcast via GatorVision OnLine.
POST-GAME NOTES
? Florida has advanced to the championship game of its home holiday tournament all 19 years of its existence, capturing the title 15 times
? The Gators are 8-2 all-time vs. teams in the current alignment of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, including a 3-0 mark under the direction of head coach Amanda Butler.
? Sunday's contest marked Florida's first game in nine days due to a break for final examinations. It also was the Gators' first game in the O'Connell Center since Dec. 1.
? Florida won back-to-back games for the first time this season.
? The Gators used the starting line-up of Jordan Jones, Sharielle Smith, Steffi Sorensen, Azania Stewart and Lonnika Thompson for the second time this season. The Gators are now 1-1 with that starting five.
? Sophomore center Azania Stewart recorded a career-high 18 points in the game. Her previous high was 17 against Florida A&M earlier this year on Dec. 1. Over her last two home games, Stewart is averaging 17.5 points per game.
? Sophomore guard Jordan Jones has hit at least one 3-pointer in every game this year and finished with two on Sunday. She also tied her career high with five assists.
? Senior guard Susan Yenser has now hit a 3-pointer in eight consecutive games.
? Senior guard Steffi Sorensen is the only Gator who has started every game this season.
? Senior guard Jennifer Mossor played in her first game since facing Mississippi State on Jan. 8, 2009, subbing in at the 7:15 mark of the opening half.
? Freshman forward Jennifer George brought down a career-high nine rebounds.
POST-GAME QUOTES
FLORIDA HEAD COACH AMANDA BUTLER
“It was a good win tonight. It's fantastic to be back at home, which feels really good for us. For us to carry out a great defensive game plan as we did tonight was very rewarding.”
On Florida's 23 turnovers in the game …
“It's hard to get that turnover taste out of our mouths. I have to give Southern credit – they definitely put a lot of pressure on you. Coach [Susie] Gardner did a great job with the scout. As she said, they [Southern] play every possession as if it's their last possession and they are down one. You can see that with the steals that they were able to accumulate. It's one stat that really jumps off the page. They average over 12 per game. We talked about composure. There are a lot of times when you have steals and turnovers and you lose composure, but we didn't. I was really pleased with that.”
On Jennifer Mossor playing her first game since Jan. 8, 2009 …
“It was exciting for me to be able to say 'Jen, get in.' I've been waiting for that opportunity. We wanted to give her an opportunity to get up and down the floor and feel what it's like to be in a game again. This is just the first week she has been practicing full-go. There's not sense in doing too much too soon with her.”
On the short turnaround before tomorrow's 7 p.m. game …
“It's a quick turnaround. We're going to leave here and get a live scout. That's a huge advantage. The team can watch and get scouting reports of both teams. We want them to take in everything that they can. Tomorrow we'll watch a little film and try to get to know them a little bit better. Then we'll get ourselves hyped and in game mentality again.”
#13 Azania Stewart, So., C
On setting a career-high in points her last two home games …
“It's great to be home, but we've been practicing for a week straight. It's great to get out and compete against another team other than ourselves.”
#22 Jennifer Mossor, Sr., G
On playing her first game since Jan. 8, 2009 …
“It felt great. I haven't played a game since January, so it's exciting for me.”
SOUTHERN HEAD COACH SANDY PUGH
“We have to put the ball in the hole. I thought we really got down on ourselves because our shooters, who would normally give us our lift, didn't do as good of a job. I thought that Florida picked up the pressure in the second half and we didn't do a really good job in transition defense or taking care of the basketball. I don't think it was as much of what Florida did to us as what we didn't do. You have games like that. We expect our seniors to step up and show leadership. It's a learning experience and we'll be back on again tomorrow.”
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