GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Despite four players scoring in double figures including redshirt-senior Funda Nakkasoglu's game-high 26 points, the University of Florida women's basketball team fell in overtime 83-74, to Northwestern Sunday afternoon at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
 
Florida led for over 32 minutes in the matchup, but was outscored 11-2 in the overtime period as the Wildcats improved to 4-0 on the year.
 
Delicia Washington finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and a team-best five assists while Zada Williams scored a career-high 14 off the Gator bench. Freshman Kristina Moore put together the best all-around game of her young career adding 10 points and seven boards.
 
The Gators led by as many as 11 points in a game that saw 10 ties and 13 lead changes, but foul trouble in Florida's frontcourt helped fuel Northwestern's late run. Williams and starting post player Paige Robinson both fouled out within a 13 second span late in the fourth quarter as NU finished the fourth on a 13-2 scoring spurt.
 
Florida scored efficiently and effectively from two-point range all game, finishing the contest shooting 64.1 percent (25-of-39) on shots inside the three-point arc in what was just the second meeting between the Gators and Wildcats.
 
UF also valued its possessions, registering a season-low 11 turnovers.
 
Florida led at the end of each of the first three quarters and carried a 57-51 lead into the final period thanks to an incredible stretch of shooting in the third. The Gators made 78.6 percent of their shots in the frame finishing 11-of-14 which included a run of nine-straight makes.

Nakkasoglu, who entered the game leading the SEC in scoring and ranking third in field goal percentage, continued to build on what has been an excellent start to her final season in Gainesville, connecting on 69.2 percent (9-of-13) of her attempts which included a trio of three-pointers.
 
In the early stages of the fourth, Florida continued to score efficiently, as it made four-straight shots at a point in the frame and grew its lead to 70-59 with 3:14 left in regulation. Northwestern countered with a late run of its own, scoring 11-straight points and knotting the score up at 70-70 with under a minute to play.
 
After Northwestern's Lindsey Pulliam made a contested jump shot to tie the game, Florida assumed possession with 38 seconds remaining. The Gators' first few looks on their designed play didn't materialize, forcing Moore to drive down the left side of the lane with the shot clock ticking down. In a pivotal point in the game, the freshman scored on a tough runner to put the Gators up 72-70. Needing a stop on the game's final possession, Florida forced Northwestern into a very tough shot but Jordan Hamilton converted a layup on the right side with 0.8 seconds to play. After a timeout setup a side out of bounds play on Florida's end of the court, the Gators' Kiki Smith threw a lob inside but Northwestern defended the play well to send the game into overtime.
 
Smith finished with a team-best 10 rebounds along with four points and three assists.
 
The Wildcats also featured four in doubles figures paced by Pulliam's 22. Pallas Kunauyi-Akpanah, one of the best rebounders in the nation, compiled a double double with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
 
The Gators return to action Wednesday, Nov. 21 when they travel to Assembly Hall to battle another Big Ten foe in the Indiana Hoosiers.
 
Quotables
 
Florida Head Coach Cam Newbauer
 
Opening Statement
"First, hats off to Northwestern. You have to play the whole game, the full 40 minutes. We didn't do that today. We saw on film how good they were defensively, so we are not surprised at how they gave us fits trying to score against their zone. Anytime you let a team like Northwestern have four players in double figures and you don't close out, you're in trouble. We gave them 25 free throws and they beat us up on the glass, so they deserved to win.
 
I liked Zada Williams' response tonight. We challenged her today and told her she wouldn't start because we wanted to see more out of her. Funda continues to do what Funda has done. She keeps her eyes on the rim, went 9-of-13, and I wish we could have gotten her more looks. She has done a fantastic job trying to lead our team. A lot of these shots we are missing in the game, we are making in practice. We are going to keep shooting our shots and staying the course. From a defensive standpoint, we've got to get better. I told the team, we know what the response has to be tomorrow. These ladies have to show up every day and fight and battle. We have to find a way to put it together for 40 minutes on the floor."
 
On Kristina Moore's shot in the fourth quarter . . .
"We talk about making plays and she did a good job of making the right read with a nice floater. It didn't surprise me because she has some craftiness in her game. It's one thing to make a shot like that, it's another thing to be willing to take the shot, so I was proud of her for taking the shot. For a freshman to step up in that role is great to see."
 
On the 11-0 run by Northwestern late in the game . . .
"They hit shots and we had careless turnovers, and a couple of bad fouls. It's one thing to be down and fight your way back, but it's another to have the lead and hang onto it, and that is not something we are accustomed to this year. Sometimes it takes something like this for you to look at and learn from it."
 
On losing Williams and Robinson in the fourth quarter . . .
"It changed everything for us. We don't mind playing five guards, but you really don't want to have to do that for an extended period of time and we had to do that. Joe's a great coach and they made some great adjustments to what we were doing.
 
On the team's confidence going forward . . .
"Northwestern is a very good team and are going to contend for the Big Ten championship. We have to have that poise and strength when we need it. When you get punched, you can't wobble. We wobbled a little too much. So, I know our response, we are going to come out and get better. Next time this happens in a game, I hope we strengthen our grip a little tighter and stick together, playing smarter and more together."
 
Funda Nakkasoglu, Redshirt-Senior, Guard
On what she told her teammates late in the game
"I was trying to tell them no matter what happens, where we are at in the game, everyone needed to be focused at all times. I said no matter whether you're coming off the bench and you haven't played big minutes, you always need to know what we're running because that's what gets you the win or the loss. I just wanted to reiterate that."
 
Zada Williams, Redshirt-Junior, Forward
On what she saw from her teammates…
"The best couple of days have been really rough for me. So I think them believing and telling me to keep going was what carried us during that little stretch. I think we just played well together in that stretch and in the whole game actually."
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
Notables

• Nakkasoglu has opened the season with four 20+ point outings in the team's first four games
• Nakksoglu has knocked down a three-pointer in 27-straight games, the second longest streak in program history. She sits three games behind the leader Brandi McCain (30).
• Florida's 19 points in the opening quarter were its most in a first quarter this season
• Florida's 11 turnovers were a season low
• The Gators made nine-straight shots in the third quarter
• Williams scored a career-high 14 points
• Florida falls to 10-24 against the Big Ten all time and 0-2 vs. Northwestern
• All four of the Gators' losses have been decided by 10 or fewer points

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