Sophomore guard Trumae Lucas (Greensboro, N.C.) scored a career-high 15 points Wednesday as one of three Gators in double-figure scoring to lead her team to an 80-54 win against instate foe Jacksonville in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The victory was head coach Amanda Butler's 50th at the helm of her alma mater.
The Gators (7-6), who won back-to-back games for just the second time this season, shot a sizzling 54.5 percent (30-of-55) from the floor. Florida's defense proved to be a difference-maker for the second consecutive game, as the Gators limited Jacksonville to 26.5 percent (18-of-68) shooting from the field and induced the Dolphins into 21 turnovers.
Florida topped the 80-point plateau for the third time this season and is 3-0 in 2009 when tallying 80 or more points. Defensively, JU's 54 points marked the fifth time this season the Gators have held their opponents under 55.
“It was another fantastic win,” Butler said. “We had great balance and great effort, especially in the way we started the game. It was important for us to come out of the gates and lay the first punch to get them [Jacksonville] back on their heels. We had tremendous bench play and did all the things we need to see and dictate in a game as we go into SEC play.”
Lucas' 15 points bested her previous career high of 14 achieved last season versus Kentucky. She connected on 7-of-7 shots from the free-throw line and also tied her career high with five assists.
Senior forward Sharielle Smith (Bradenton, Fla.) turned in her sixth career double-double and her third this season with 11 points and a career-high-tying 13 rebounds to go with a season-high three steals. Freshman center Jennifer George (Orlando, Fla.) added 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting to complement five rebounds and blocked a career-high four shots.
“I'm really proud of the way George played,” Butler said. “The thing I'm so proud of is she played so tough. One of the things we talked to her in practice about and her teammates are always encouraging her about is she needs to trust how strong she is. She is just a physical presence and we don't want her to settle for anything less than the 'and-1.' She was very determined and focused on putting the ball in the hole.”
Senior guard Lonnika Thompson (New Orleans, La.), who has been one of the key sparks in Florida's increased defensive intensity, tied a career high with eight assists. Senior guard Steffi Sorensen (Jacksonville, Fla.) added eight points, including two 3-pointers.
Sophomore center Azania Stewart (Wood Green, England) had seven points and blocked two shots.
The Gators took a 41-18 advantage into the locker room at halftime, its largest lead at intermission to date this season. Florida shot 50.0 percent (17-of-34) from the floor and held the Dolphins to just 24.1 (7-of-29) shooting from the field. The Gators out-rebounded Jacksonville, 25-15, and forced 13 turnovers.
Florida, which scored the first nine points, jumped out to a 22-6 advantage to begin the game, holding Jacksonville to just 2-of-17 shooting to start the contest. After a basket by the Dolphins' Crystal Grable at the 9:48 mark, George connected on a basket and sophomore guard Jordan Jones (Suwanee, Ga.) sunk a 3-pointer from the left wing to widen UF's lead to 19, 27-8, with 8:36 remaining in the period. The Gators led by as many as 22 points (33-11 at the 4:51 mark) in the first half before seven consecutive Jacksonville points brought the Dolphins back within 15, 33-18, with 2:06 left until intermission.
Both teams were cold offensively to begin the second half, but Jacksonville opened the final period on a 7-2 run over the first three minutes out of the locker room. From there, the Gators used a 6-2 run capped off by a George basket at the 13:57 mark to push their lead back out to 22, 49-27. The two teams began trading hoops until Florida, leading 59-39, ran off five in a row to go up by 25, 64-39, with 7:09 remaining. The Dolphins got no closer than 21 points the rest of the way.
Jacksonville (1-9), which has now dropped seven consecutive games, was led by senior guard Courtney Jackson's game-high 18 points.
"I was really disappointed in the way that we started the game and the way that we came out and played the first 20 minutes,” JU head coach Jill Dunn said. “It didn't feel like we were ready to compete or give our best effort tonight."
Florida returns to action on Sunday, Jan. 3, when it opens Southeastern Conference play at Arkansas (8-5, 0-0 SEC). Tip-off in Bud Walton Arena is slated for 3 p.m. ET and the radio broadcast of the game will be carried live in Gainesville on WBXY-FM (The Star 99.5) and through the internet at www.GatorZone.com, the official website of the Florida Gators.
POST-GAME NOTES
? Florida and Jacksonville met for just the third time in school history with the Gators now leading the all-time series 2-1. The two teams met for the third consecutive year.
? The Gators are now 209-61 all-time vs. teams from the state of Florida.
? Florida is 59-9 all-time vs. teams in the current alignment of the Atlantic Sun Conference, including a 6-2 record under Butler.
? Wednesday's win was Amanda Butler's 50th win at the helm of the Florida program and her 90th overall as a collegiate head coach; this is her third year at UF and her fifth overall as a head coach.
? UF used the starting lineup of Jordan Jones, Sharielle Smith, Steffi Sorensen, Azania Stewart and Lonnika Thompson for the fifth time this season and the fourth consecutive game. The Gators are 3-2 with the current starting lineup.
? Senior guard Steffi Sorensen is the only Gator who has started every game this season.
? Sophomore guard Trumae Lucas charted a career-high 15 points to best her previous personal-high of 14, achieved last season vs. Kentucky.
? Senior forward Sharielle Smith charted her sixth career double-double and third this season with 11 points and a career-high-tying 13 rebounds.
? Senior guard Lonnika Thompson had three steals in the game and has recorded at least one steal in 10 consecutive games.
? Thompson tied a career-high with eight assists on Wednesday. It matched her previous high of eight, achieved earlier this season against Old Dominion.
? Sophomore guard Jordan Jones has hit at least one 3-pointer in every game this season. She now moves into sole possession of eighth place in school history for most consecutive games with a 3-pointer (13). In total, she has knocked down a trey in 24 consecutive games dating back to her time playing at South Carolina.
? Freshman Tessah Holt extended her made free throw streak to 10, hitting all three attempts against Jacksonville.
POST-GAME QUOTES
FLORIDA HEAD COACH AMANDA BUTLER
“It was another fantastic win. We had great balance and great effort, especially in the way we started the game. It was important for us to come out of the gates and lay the first punch to get them [Jacksonville] back on their heels. We had tremendous bench play and did all the things we need to see and dictate in a game as we go into SEC play.”
On the team's improved performance in its last two games …
“As well as we've played our last two games, we know our best basketball is still ahead of us. That's what we want this time of year. We need to take it to another level as we get ready for SEC play and the trend is certainly in that direction. It's important for our confidence and as we go in practice everyday. It's especially important as we start SEC play on the road. We need to get our minds and bodies right for Fayetteville.”
On if the team's break for the holidays was much needed …
“This break does seem to have served us well. More than anything, it appears that our team was able to reflect on what has happened and what we want to happen next.”
On Jacksonville's 7-2 run out of intermission …
“That was a great adjustment made by [JU] Coach [Jill] Dunn to try and slow us down. They were just trying to put people our there and make us stop and think. They did change the tempo but our energy, whether it's fast or slow, still needs to be high. That's what we didn't do at the start of the second half.”
On the play of freshman forward Jennifer George …
“I'm really proud of the way George played. The thing I'm so proud of is she played so tough. One of the things we talked to her in practice about and her teammates are always encouraging her about is she needs to trust how strong she is. She is just a physical presence and we don't want her to settle for anything less than the 'and-1.' She was very determined and focused on putting the ball in the hole.”
#2 Lonnika Thompson, Sr., G
On the difference in her game the last few contests …
“I've just been able to set the tone and going out there and playing hard and focused. I've been able to make their point guard uncomfortable, get steals and find an open man that can knock down shots.”
#21 Trumae Lucas, So., G
On her career-high 15 points Wednesday …
“I got some extra shots before Tuesday's practice because I was disappointed after Monday's game. It clearly showed that the extra shots really helped with my offensive game tonight.”
JACKSONVILLE HEAD COACH JILL DUNN
"I was really disappointed in the way that we started the game and the way that we came out and played the first 20 minutes. It didn't feel like we were ready to compete or give our best effort tonight."
-UF-
