Florida's Sha Brooks (Jackson, Tenn.) scored a game-high 27 points and Marshae Dotson (Columbus, Ohio) added 20, but it wasn't enough as Arkansas shot 53.8 percent (28-of-52) from the floor and handed the No. 15 Gators their third consecutive loss Thursday with an 83-74 decision in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
The Gators (22-5, 8-4 Southeastern Conference), who were denied their 300th all-time home victory, trailed by 10, 76-66 with 1:03 remaining in the game before engineering a 7-1 run that brought them to within four, 77-73, on a 3-pointer by junior guard Steffi Sorensen (Jacksonville, Fla.) with 33 second remaining. The Razorbacks (16-11, 5-7 SEC), however, made 6-of-8 free throws in the game's final 32 seconds to secure the win.
Arkansas' post presence and depth was a difference-maker in the game, as the Razorbacks out-scored the Gators 42-34 in the paint and 32-15 in bench points.
“Arkansas played a great game,” Florida head coach Amanda Butler said. “They were very confident, very aggressive and really took it to us. Our response to their energy was very disappointing. I thought we had letdowns in every area. It was an overall lack of intensity and that is really disappointing at this point in the season.”
Brooks' 27 points included four 3-pointers and a 7-of-8 effort from the free-throw line. Junior forward Sharielle Smith (Bradenton, Fla.) brought down a career-high 13 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.
Florida was limited to 42.4 percent (28-of-66) shooting from the floor in the game, although the Gators won the rebound battle 38-33. During the contest, UF set the school's single-season record for 3-pointers made and now have 182 on the year. A 3-pointer by Brooks with 10:47 left that cut the Gators' deficit to one, 51-50, was the record-breaking trey.
Arkansas took a 34-32 advantage into the locker room at intermission after shooting 51.9 percent (14-of-27) from the floor in the opening half, while Florida was limited to just 36.1 percent (13-of-36) from the field. The Gators won the rebound battle 20-18, but made just 3-of-13 shots from beyond the arc.
Arkansas scored the first five points of the game, holding Florida scoreless for just more than two minutes to start the game. Back-to-back baskets by Dotson brought Florida back into the game, down 5-4, with 17:30 remaining. The two teams began trading baskets before the Razorbacks widened their margin to five, 14-9, with 13:32 left in the half. Freshman guard Trumae Lucas (Greensboro, N.C.) spearheaded a Gator comeback with a basket and a pair of free throws to allow Florida to cut within one, 14-13, at the 12:15 mark.
With Florida down 17-15, a basket by Brooks on the right wing knotted the score at 17. A shooting barrage ensued with both teams sinking quick baskets before three straight hoops by the Razorbacks put them ahead 34-28 with 2:07 until intermission. The Gators closed the half on a 4-0 run after back-to-back baskets by Brooks and Dotson.
The two teams continued to trade baskets out of halftime until Arkansas, leading by just two, 38-36, with 16:20 remaining went on an 8-2 run over the next three minutes to pull ahead 46-38 and force Butler to burn a timeout. Out of the break, Sorensen drained a 3-pointer from the left wing in front of the Florida bench, but the Razorbacks pushed their lead back out to 51-43. From there, the Gators used a 7-0 run to whittle its deficit down to one, 51-50, with 10:47 left. Arkansas answered with a 6-0 run of its own and later went up by 10, 65-55, with 6:44 to go in the game.
Arkansas was led by two players – Ayana Brereton and Charity Ford – who each scored a team-high 19 points. In total, four Razorbacks scored double-figure point totals, including Ceira Ricketts' double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
“Our kids played with a lot of confidence, played pretty good offensively and played pretty well defensively,” Arkansas head coach Tom Collen said. “We let Dotson and Brooks get away from us and our game plan was to stop those two. I'm not sure we followed that game plan, but we were fortunate that none of the other players on Florida's team stepped up and beat us. We were able to make free throws down the stretch and this team just really believes in themselves right now.”
Florida returns to action on Sunday when it plays host to South Carolina on Senior Day in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. EST and the game will be carried live on Sun Sports. The radio broadcast of the game can be heard in Gainesville on WRUF-FM (103.7) and through www.GatorZone.com, the official website of the Florida Gators.
Seniors Sha Brooks, Kim Critton, Marshae Dotson and Aneika Henry each will be honored in a presentation FOLLOWING Sunday's game.
POST-GAME NOTES
· Florida is now 22-5 overall and 8-4 in the SEC with the loss, while Arkansas improves to 16-11, 4-7.
· The Gators have now lost three consecutive games.
· Florida leads the all-time series between the two teams 17-7.
· In the game, UF set the school's single-season record for 3-pointers made and now have 182 on the year. A 3-pointer by Brooks with 10:47 left that cut the Gators' deficit to one, 51-50, was the record-breaking hoop.
· The Gators now have one more opportunity this season to notch the program's 300th all-time home victory.
· Trumae Lucas scored her 100th career point in Thursday's game.
· Junior forward Sharielle Smith brought down a career-high 13 rebounds, which led all rebounders in the game.
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