Florida sophomore Trumae Lucas (Greensboro, N.C.) connected on a pull-up jumper with 17.7 seconds left and senior forward Sharielle Smith pulled down a critical rebound and nailed two clutch free throws to direct the Gators to a 59-56 win against South Carolina on Sunday in front of 2,053 fans in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
The Gators (11-9, 4-3 Southeastern Conference), playing their ninth game this season decided by less than 10 points, led by four, 55-51, with 2:29 left after sophomore center Azania Stewart (Wood Green, England) knocked down 1-of-2 free throws. South Carolina standout Kelsey Bone converted a 3-point play and then nailed a shot with 44.2 seconds remaining to give the Gamecocks a 56-55 edge.
Lucas drove the lane and pulled up for a jumper from the left wing with 17.7 left on the clock to put Florida ahead, 57-56. The Gamecocks ran the clock down to nine seconds before a La'Keisha Sutton jumper was blocked by freshman Jennifer George (Orlando, Fla.). After a scramble for the rebound, Smith corralled the ball and was immediately fouled. She drained both free throws to secure the victory
Lucas and Smith led the way for the Gators, scoring 11 points apiece as part of a balanced offensive effort. Five or more Florida players charted eight or more points in the game.
UF shot 37.3 percent (19-of-51) from the field for the game, while South Carolina made 33.3 percent (20-of-60) of its shots. The Gamecocks won the rebound battle 43-36 and the second-chance points category 20-9, but Florida's intensity and toughness ultimately willed the Gators to the win.
“We won today because of our toughness,” UF head coach Amanda Butler said. “It was not a pretty offensive game, it was not a pretty defensive game and we got out-rebounded. It doesn't look pretty on the stat sheet, but toughness prevailed and I'm really, really proud of that.”
Smith's 11 points came on 4-of-4 shooting from the free-throw line and she also brought down six rebounds. Senior guard Steffi Sorensen (Jacksonville, Fla.) added eight points and eight rebounds in 31 minutes of action. Stewart and senior guard Lonnika Thompson (New Orleans, La.) each added eight points.
George (Orlando, Fla.) blocked a career-high six shots and added seven rebounds in 21 minutes of extended play, filling in for a foul-plagued Stewart.
In a first half characterized by two sizeable runs, the two squads entered intermission locked in a 27-27 tie. The Gators shot 40.9 percent (9-of-22) from the floor in the opening period, while South Carolina connected on just 29.0 percent (9-of-31) of its field-goal attempts. The Gamecocks out-rebounded Florida 20-17 and led in second-chance points 15-0, while the Gators hurt themselves with 12 turnovers through the first 20 minutes.
Florida used an early 18-4 run to take a 20-7 advantage following a pair of Lucas free throws at the 9:28 mark. The Gamecocks then employed a 17-3 run to go in front 24-23 with 4:35 left until halftime. A Jennifer Mossor (Orlando, Fla.) basket stopped the Gators' scoring drought and the two teams traded points the remainder of the half, entering the locker room in a gridlock.
The two teams traded the lead to begin the second half before South Carolina was able to build a 36-32 advantage at the 15:14 mark on a Sutton lay-up. With the Gators down by four, 38-34, Florida ran off seven in a row, capped off by a Ndidi Madu (Antioch, Tenn.) basket to go back in front 41-38 with 11:46 remaining.
The Gamecocks managed to knot the score at 44 all and the teams continued to trade points. With the Gators leading by one, 49-48, Thompson drained a 3-pointer on the left wing and Stewart followed with a free throw to put Florida ahead by five, 53-48, with 4:53 remaining. That set up the late-game heroics.
South Carolina (10-9, 3-4 SEC), which entered Sunday's game having won three of its previous four contests, was led by Bone's game-high 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Sutton's 15.
“It went back and forth,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said. “I thought we did a good job executing down the stretch. We also did a tremendous job defensively because I don't think that's the shot that they [Florida] wanted to take at the end of the game, so we made them go deep into their offense. [Trumae] Lucas made a good shot.”
Florida has a mid-week bye and returns to action next Sunday, Jan. 31, when the Gators travel to Oxford, Miss., to face Ole Miss. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. ET and the game will be televised live on FSN, while the radio broadcast can be heard live in Gainesville on WBXY-FM (The Star 99.5 FM) and through www.Gatorzone.com, the official website of the Florida Gators.
POST-GAME NOTES
? Sunday's game marked Florida's ninth game this season decided by less than 10 points. The Gators are 4-5 in those games. This also was UF's sixth of seven SEC games decided by single digits this season.
? Florida leads the all-time series between the two schools 19-8, including an 8-5 mark in Gainesville. Sunday's victory marked the Gators' fourth consecutive win against South Carolina.
? The Gators used the starting line-up of Jordan Jones, Sharielle Smith, Steffi Sorensen, Azania Stewart and Lonnika Thompson for the 12th time this season and 11th consecutive game. Florida is 7-5 with the current starting lineup.
? Senior guard Steffi Sorensen is the only player who has started every game this season.
? Sophomore guard Jordan Jones has hit at least one 3-pointer in each of her 20 games this year, tied for the second-longest streak in UF history. It's also part of a 31-game streak that dates back to Jones' freshman year at South Carolina.
? Freshman center Jennifer George swatted a career-high six blocks; it's the most blocks by a Gator this season
POST-GAME QUOTES
FLORIDA HEAD COACH AMANDA BUTLER
“I am obviously elated. It was a huge win for a lot of different reasons. I am happy for Jordan [Jones] in particular. She played well in a very tough situation. I think, really, in Azania's [Stewart] absence, this is another game where [Jennifer] George can draw a lot of confidence. We won today because of our toughness. It was not a pretty offensive game, it was not a pretty defensive game and we got out-rebounded. It doesn't look pretty on the stat sheet, but toughness prevailed and I'm really, really proud of that.”
On Florida's sizeable first-half lead …
“South Carolina is very talented. They've got a great team. There was never a time in that first half where we felt like everything was going our way. We knew they were going to make a run. When they did, we just tried to get back to the things that had gotten us our lead. We seem to have a first-half turnover problem, but we were able to battle through that. We would get leads today and give up leads. The mental toughness that we showed to not let that swing be too dominant is a demonstration of our toughness.”
On South Carolina's Kelsey Bone getting in foul trouble …
“It was huge. Kelsey is so talented and I told our players, not taking any credit away from other great post players that we've faced this season, but she's the total package. She's big, strong, skilled and a very smart ballplayer. It improved our chances, especially with Azania experiencing foul trouble. Bone is a game-changer and when she gets in foul trouble, you have to take advantage of that.”
On Jennifer George's career-high six blocks …
“She's an exceptional athlete with tremendous timing. The way she plays, that's what really should dictate the game – players making plays.”
On the crowd of 2,053 …
“It was awesome. I had a chance to come to the men's game last night and address the crowd and encourage them to come out today. Hopefully we raised a lot of money for Haiti tonight because that was a big part of encouraging people to come out. This building and this court is one of the places in the SEC that people don't like to come because we have the best fans of anywhere. They were as much a part of the win as George's block at the end. It was huge and no question a factor in the end.”
#33 Jordan Jones, So., G
On South Carolina's deep rotation …
“I think it's a challenge that we face. The thing about our team is that we have a big rotation, too. We're not out there for 40 minutes a game. We're rotating and staying fresh. The biggest thing is knowing their personnel, getting out on shooters and adjusting throughout the game.”
On not being on the court at the end of the game …
“I have so much faith in my teammates. It's so nice to be at a place where it's not all on me. To sit there and watch another guard make the game-winning shot is very satisfying. This is why I came here – to play for a coach like Coach Butler and have a player like Trumae Lucas come in and hit the game-winning shot.”
#32 Jennifer George, Fr., C
On playing against bigger post players …
“I just try to use my strength in the paint as much as possible and try to rebound.”
SOUTH CAROLINA HEAD COACH DAWN STALEY
“It went back and forth. I thought we did a good job executing down the stretch. We also did a tremendous job defensively because I don't think that's the shot that they [Florida] wanted to take at the end of the game, so we made them go deep into their offense. [Trumae] Lucas made a good shot.”
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