Florida Gators

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Senior Carla Batchelor scored a career-high 19 points and became the ninth different Gator to lead the team in scoring, but Florida's balance wasn't enough in an 86-71 loss at No. 2 South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena Thursday evening.
 
Batchelor, who scored seven more points than she ever had, converted 7-of-12 from the field, including 2-of-5 three-pointers and 3-of-4 from the line.
 
Cassie Peoples scored all of her 13 points in the first half, while Haley Lorenzen added 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor.
 
South Carolina, which won its 23^rd consecutive Southeastern Conference home game, was led in scoring by Tiffany Mitchell's 22 points, while Alaina Coates added 14 points with 11 rebounds and helped the Gamecocks to a commanding 44-30 rebounding advantage during the game.
 
 
How It Happened
Haley Lorenzen scored the first points of the game before South Carolina struck with the next eight points. Cassie Peoples, who scored 13 first-half points, hit one of her three three-pointers in the opening half and stopped the run, as Florida battled and was within striking distance throughout the first quarter.
 
Florida scored the final four points of the first frame and had a chance at two more but January Miller's final shot rimmed out and the Gators were down three, 19-16, at the end of the period.
 
South Carolina ripped out of the second quarter with 16 straight points for a 35-16 lead with 3:46 on the clock until halftime and looked to be running away with the game early, as the notably potent frontcourt was able to watch the Gamecock backcourt drill 5-of-10 three-pointers during the first half, with two coming during that devastating run.
 
The Gators did begin to show their fight, and slowly chipped away at the deficit, cutting it to 12 points, 43-31, by halftime.
 
In addition to Peoples' points, Miller, who scored the final bucket of the half at the buzzer, tallied all of her six points during the second quarter.
 
The Gators scored the first two buckets with Ronni Williams and Lorenzen hitting inside to start the third quarter and cut their deficit to eight, 43-35, before the Gamecocks stuck back with the next seven points and regained a 15-point cushion.
 
Florida again began to chip away and ended the third quarter with Simone Westbrook and Carla Batchelor each nailing treys and the Gators were back within 10 points, 59-49, entering the deciding fourth quarter.
 
The teams traded buckets to begin the final frame, with Batchelor then tacking on a pair of free throws that dropped SC's lead to single digits. The hosts, however, came right back with their eighth three-pointer of the game and the lead was back to 11 points, 64-53.
 
Lorenzen came back with a tough shot inside and the Gators were within nine, 64-55 with 7:43 to go. After one free throw by SC, Tyshara Fleming putback an offensive board and Florida was down just eight, 65-57
 
SC scored on its next offensive possession and came up with a steal and a bucket, as the Gators committed a miscue on its next two tries and the hosts made them pay, eventually building a 14-point lead, 71-57, with 5:24 to play.
 
Williams halted the run with just her second three-pointer of the season and Eleanna Christinaki converted one free throw off an SC technical foul and Florida was down 10, 71-61, with 4:52 remaining.
 
Florida's shot was off the mark on its next two offensive possessions, while SC came away with scores twice for a 75-61 advantage with 3:20 on the clock.
 
Batchelor putback an offensive rebound, however, South Carolina made its free throws down the stretch, converting 8-of-11 in the final 3:20 of the game, as the Gamecocks scored eight of their final 12 points from the line.
 
Official Postgame Press Conference – Head Coach Amanda Butler: http://youtu.be/Q-EV4pPX38w
 
Updated Records:

• Florida: 19-5, 7-4 SEC
• South Carolina: 23-1, 11-0 SEC

 
Numbers of Note:

• Florida outscored South Carolina, 18-16, in the third quarter – the 18^th time in 24 third quarters the Gators have 'won' the third period this season.
• Florida came up with 13 steals during the game, the 20^th time this year the Gators have had double-digits thefts.
• South Carolina hit an uncharacteristic 8-of-19 three-pointers.
• The 15-point setback was tied for the largest for the Gators this season (also at Missouri)
• The rebounding margin (-14) was the largest deficit by the Gators this season.

 
Individual Numbers of Note:

• Carla Batchelor scored a career-high 19 points (was 12 points, twice this season)
• Batchelor's double-figure scoring game was her fourth of the season, fifth of her career
• Batchelor led the Gator in scoring for the first time in her career, as she became the ninth different player to hold team-high scoring honors this year
• Cassie Peoples finished with 13 points for her 10^th double-figure scoring game of the year, 42^nd of career
• Haley Lorenzen scored 12 points for her ninth double-digit game of the year, 16^th in career

 
Next for the Gators:

• Florida continues its road slate traveling to The Plaines to play Auburn on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT). The game will be televised live by SEC Network, with Cara Capuano and Nell Fortner calling the action.
• The Tigers (17-8, 7-5 SEC) defeated Ole Miss in Oxford on Thursday, 65-60

 
 
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