BOULDER, Colo. – A number of significant individual performances and clutch free throw shooting propelled the Gators to a thrilling 85-79 victory against Ball State in the first game of the 29th Omni Hotels Classic played at the Coors Events Center on Friday evening.
Florida trailed by as many as seven points, 77-70, with 3:22 remaining before ending the game on a 15-2 run to win its fourth consecutive game and earn a spot in Saturday's championship against host Colorado. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. MT). The Buffs defeated Massachusetts, 90-63, in their opening round game.
Sophomore Haley Lorenzen scored a game and career-high 20 points, hitting 9-of-12 from the field that included several outside jumpers.
Junior Simone Westbrook sparked the Gators off the bench with a career-high 17 points, as she converted 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, as well as all four free throw attempts. During the final 3:22 of the game, Westbrook scored seven points, including consecutive scores that featured a three-pointer and a scoop layin after Carlie Needles stole an inbounds pass and dished to Westbrook who had the Gators with two points, 77-75.
Needles, a redshirt senior from Highlands Ranch, Colo., approximately 46 miles from Boulder, scored all of her 13 points during the first half en route to a season-high scoring output. She also finished with a game-high four steals and a pair of assists.
Junior Ronni Williams finished with 12 points for her fourth double-figure scoring game of the season and 36th of her career.
Sophomore Dyandria Anderson had a stellar all-around game and flirted with a triple-double, recording nine points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, all of which were career-highs. It was the first time a Gator has dished double-figure assists since Brandi McCain handed out 11 against Kent State on Dec. 29, 2001.
Anderson also was clutch from the free throw line down the stretch for the Gators, who converted a season-best 23-of-26. Anderson hit all four of her attempts from the line in the final eight seconds to seal the victory.
How it Happened
The game was tight throughout and featured 10 lead changes and eight tied scores. The first half deadlocked at 45.
Florida began the second half on a 9-2 spurt and took its largest lead of the game, 52-45, with 6:51 remaining in the third quarter.
Ball State charged back and tied the score on two different occasions in the third quarter, the second time as late as 25 seconds remaining. Westbrook, however, nailed a three-pointer with seven ticks left and the Gators carried a three-point lead into the final frame.
The Cardinals charged out to start the fourth quarter. After Lorenzen knocked down a 12 footer, BSU went on a 13-3 run over the next 5:23 and took a 77-79 lead with 3:22 remaining.
Lorenzen again hit a tough jumper with 3:01 remaining to stop the BSU spree and spark a 9-0 Gator run.
Anderson came up with a defensive board and found then found Westbrook on the other end where she nailed a three-pointer and had the Gators within two, 77-75, with 2:36 on the clock.
Anderson again limited BSU to one shot as she corralled her sixth defensive board on the contest. She also provided the assist to Lorenzen, who was the recipient of Anderson's great inside pass.
BSU's scoring drought continued, as Nathaline Fontaine, the Mid-American preseason conference player of the year who finished with a team-high 16 points, missed inside, but got the rebound and the Cardinals called a timeout.
Lorenzen stole the inbounds pass and Westbrook was fouled with 28 seconds remaining. She knocked down both tries and Florida took an 81-77 lead.
Renee Bennett cut UF's lead to two with a layup and BSU quickly fouled Anderson, who sank both free throws with eight seconds left that gave UF an 83-79 advantage.
The Cardinals again missed and had to foul Anderson, who had come up with the rebound. Anderson made both from the line to close the game's scoring.
First Half at a Glance
Florida trailed by as many as six points twice during the second quarter and as late as with 8:03 remaining. Haley Lorenzen hit an inside jumper and Carlie Needles knocked down her third trey of the half and Florida was within one, 27-26.
The teams traded buckets and with Ball State holding a 31-28 lead, Needles converted one free throw and Ronni Williams followed with two more from the stripe and tied the game.
The Cardinals scored the next four points, before Westbrook drained a three-pointer.
The teams again exchanged scores for the next minute and a half before Carla Batchelor collected a loose ball off her shot that was blocked and put it in. January Miller added a pair of free throws and gave UF a 40-30 lead with 1:14 remaining, but Frannie Frazier hit two from the line for BSU and gave the Cardinals a 41-40 lead.
The Gators called a timeout and Needles drilled a three-pointer out of the inbounds play. Frazier closed the scoring with a bucket with 24 seconds remaining and the teams were tied at 43 entering the break.
Notes from the First Half
· There were six lead changes and five tied scores
· Carlie Needles scored 12 of her half-high 13 points from beyond the arc (4-8)
· Ball State shot 53.5 percent (16-30) from the floor, while UF hit 41.4 percent (12-29), but converted 5-12 three-pointers and 14-of-16 free throws
Florida vs. Ball State
· This was the first meeting between Florida and Ball State on the hardwood.
· The Gators are 12-1 all-time against teams from the Mid-American Conference.
· Florida sports a 4-1 all-time record against teams from the state of Indiana.
Updated Records
· Florida 4-1
· Ball State 2-2
Numbers of Note
· This was UF's third game this year decided by 10 points or less (2-1 record)
· UF won its fourth consecutive game.
· This was the first time this season the Gators were tied at halftime, 43-43
· The Gators are 2-2 all-time playing in the state of Colorado.
· The last time Florida played in the state was on Dec. 22, 2000, when the Gators dropped a tough 98-62 decision to Colorado.
· Florida shot a season-low 39.7 percent (27-68) from the floor, but a season-high 88.5 percent (23-26) from the free throw line
· Second Half Starters: Anderson, Needles, Lorenzen, Westbrook, Williams
· Game Starters: Anderson, Needles, Lorenzen, Christinaki, Williams
Individual Numbers of Note
· Carlie Needles scored in double-figures for the first time this year and 27th time in career
· Ronni Williams posted her fourth straight double-figure scoring game, 36th of career
· Haley Lorenzen scored a career-high 20 points (was 17 points) and reached double-figures for the second time this season, ninth time in her career
· Simone Westbrook scored 17 points for her third double-figure scoring game this year
· Dyandria Anderson tied her career-high of nine points, while posting career-bests of 10 assists and eight rebounds
· Anderson's 10 assists mark the first double-figure assist performance since Brandi McCain handed out 11 against Kent State on Dec. 29, 2001.
Quotes from the Court – UF Head Coach Amanda Butler
On the difference between the first and second half:
“I thought we played with a lot more toughness and a lot more defensive energy. I was really disappointed with not holding them better in the half court. We weren't playing very smart versus their personnel and we just weren't digging deep enough. I hate to just keep throwing clich?s out, but it really was a win that was fueled by great effort. We beat a good team, but it was fueled by heart and toughness.”
On overcoming a seven-point deficit late:
“There were huge plays and we kept our composure down the stretch and hit those free throws. Simone (Westbrook) gave us incredible energy and seemed to answer with a big play every time we needed it. I really thought Haley (Lorenzen) was our warrior tonight. She battled in the paint, she hit big shots in the paint and hit big shots outside the paint. She really led us. She led our post players.”
On Lorenzen hitting the outside jumpers:
“It was critical. We did not do a good job with our paint touches. We did not play in the paint the way that we wanted to and we allowed that zone that they played very, very well to be a lot more successful that it should have.”
On scoring 32 points off BSU's 22 turnovers:
“Simone (Westbrook) was a spark in that. She did a great job in just being disruptive. When we really focused on playing our defense, that's when we were most effective. We allowed ourselves to be a little distracted by things that didn't matter – like things that you're not in control of.”
On shooting a season-best 88.5 percent from the three throw line:
“We're a great shooting team. What we have done from the free throw line to this point has not been us. This is who we are.”
Links of Note
· Final Box Score (PDF)
· Final Box Score (HTML)
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