Gators Return Home to Secure Win Over Hofstra

Monday, December 2

Gainesville, FL

7 PM

Florida Gators

4-4,0-0SEC

Hofstra University

2-4,0-0CAA

Hofstra

Florida

Freshman Me'Arah O'Neal tallies her first collegiate double-double in the Gators Monday night victory over Hofstra.

Gators Return Home to Secure Win Over Hofstra

Monday, December 2, 2024 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Meg Christenson

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Gators secured a 75-48 win over the Hofstra Pride Monday evening at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The home victory snapped the Gators four game losing streak to even out Florida's record at 4-4.

Florida was led on both ends of the court by freshman Me'Arah O'Neal and Senior Ra Shaya Kyle. O'Neal and Kyle each posted double-doubles in Monday's outing. Kyle tallied 15 points and secured 11 rebounds to mark her fourth double-double performance of the season. Not far behind was O'Neal with 14 points and 10 rebounds to claim her first collegiate double-double.

IN THE FIRST:

12 of Florida's first 16 points came from inside the paint
O'Neal shot 100 percent from the field (3-3) to lead UF in scoring with seven points
Florida forced seven turnovers on the Pride
Kyle brought down seven of Florida's 15 rebounds
The Gators shot 57.1 percent from the field (12-21)

IN THE SECOND:

Hofstra went on a 9-1 scoring run over the Gators to start the second (7:12)
UF was held to a game low 11-points in the second and went 4-16 (.25) from the field
Florida snagged four steals
Going into the half Florida led 36-27 and out-rebounded Hofstra 25-18

IN THE THIRD:

UF capitalized on Hofstra turnovers converting for 11 points
Kyle hit seven points in the first five minutes of the period
Florida shot a game high 69.2 percent from the field (9-13)
O'Neal led on the boards securing four of the Gators nine rebounds

IN THE FOURTH:

Florida grabbed a 20-point lead to start the fourth at 59-39 (9:22)
UF saw the free throw line 16 times, securing 10 points from the stripe
Eriny Kindred led the Gators in scoring for the first time this season with four points
The Gators held the biggest lead of the game at 68-39 (5:40)
O'Neal led defensively with three rebounds, one steal, and a block

CAREER HIGHS:

Eriny Kindred
FG Made	4	vs Florida 01/01/23, vs Chicago St. 11/12/24, vs Hofstra 12/02/24

Liv McGill
Steals	4	vs Hofstra 12/02/24
FT Made	6	vs Hofstra 12/02/24
FT Attempts	8	vs Hofstra 12/02/24

Me'Arah O'Neal
Rebounds	10	vs Hofstra 12/02/24
Steals	2	vs Hofstra 12/02/24
FT Made	3	vs Florida A&M 11/07/24, vs Hofstra 12/02/24
FT Attempts	4	vs Hofstra 12/02/24

Laila Reynolds
3 FG Attempts	2	at Ole Miss 01/25/24, vs St. John's (NY) 03/21/24, vs Hofstra 12/02/24

WORTH NOTING:

Reynolds made her first start at home of the 2024-25 season
With 12 points, Reynolds hit her third consecutive game in double figures for scoring
- Previously scoring 14 vs. Tulane, and 15 vs. James Madison
Three other Gators reached double figures in scoring, Kyle (15), O'Neal (14), McGill (10)
Kyle led Florida on the boards for her 30^th time as a Gator with 11 rebounds
Florida has scored 20+ points in 19 of 32 quarters this season
Florida grabbed 13 steals and converted for 34 points off Hofstra turnovers
O'Neal recorded her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds
Kyle led UF in scoring for her second time this season and fourth time as a Gator
McGill has hit double figures in seven of her eight outings as a Gator (14, 21, 21, 11, 28, 20, 10)
Florida recorded a total 46 points in the paint
The Gators went 29-58 (.50) from the field

GATOR BITES:
UF coach Kelly Rae Finley on the overall state of her Gator team:
"We have a lot of really good basketball players and we are a really connected, good team. When we are hesitant, we are not very good… So, when we are the aggressors on both ends, it plays to our advantage. That's Gator basketball."

Sophomore Laila Reynolds on being back on the court with her teammates:
"It felt great just being able to play with my teammates and play Gator basketball. I just gotta make sure I hit the shots and hit the free throws. Just being able to get my teammates involved and play with the Gators is always fun."

Freshman Me'Arah O'Neal reflecting on her impact on the court:
"Last night I was really daydreaming about how I was going to play today, so I was really just trying to live up to that. Kelly's really big on intensity, and telling us to be intense, so I am living up to that and giving it my best effort."

TEAM RECORDS:
Florida: 4-4 (0-0 SEC)
Hofstra: 2-5 (0-0 CAA)

SERIES RECORD:
Florida leads the all-time series 2-0 over Hofstra.

NEXT UP:
The Gators will get back on the road and head to Clemson for the SEC/ACC Challenge. Florida will tip-off against the Tigers on Thursday evening inside Littlejohn Coliseum. The 8 p.m. matchup will be aired on ACC Network.

NEXT UP: at Clemson (5-2, 0-0 ACC)