Gators Defend Exactech Arena with Sunday Win Over Marshall
Florida secured its fifth home win of the season, defeating the Thundering Herd 82-63 on Sunday afternoon inside the O’Dome.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida tallied its third win of the week, defeating Marshall 82-63 at home. The Gators victory was a joint effort as four players hit double figures in scoring and all but two Gators contributed on the boards for a game total 44 rebounds.
The Gators were led on both ends of the floor by Ra Shaya Kyle<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/ra-shaya-kyle/16858> with her sixth double-double of the 2024-25 season. Kyle shot 86 percent from the field (6-7) and went 4-6 from the free throw line to post 16 points for Florida. Defensively, Kyle secured 11 rebounds to mark her third consecutive outing with 10 or more on the boards.
Freshman Liv McGill<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/liv-mcgill/16880> had an impressive night on defense alongside Kyle, snagging four steals, three blocks, and four rebounds, emphasizing her versatility on both sides of the hardwood. McGill also distributed a career high nine assists to heavily contribute to UF’s total of 20.
IN THE FIRST:
* Warren led the Gators in scoring with six points, shooting 60 percent from the field (3-5)
* Eight of UF’s points came from inside the paint
* McGill handed out three of Florida’s five assists
* Kyle led on the boards with four rebounds
* Florida and Marshall were even at 18-18 at the end of the first
IN THE SECOND:
* Florida secured a game high 27 points with six Gators contributing to the score
* Eriny Kindred<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/eriny-kindred/16857> led all in scoring with nine points
* Kyle led on the boards with five of UF’s 13 rebounds
* O’Neal and Kyle both shot 100 percent from the field to tally a combined 11 points
* Florida held Marshall to only eight points and a field goal percentage of 11.8 (2-17)
* UF shot 62.5 percent from the field (10-16)
* The Gators went into the half with a 19-point lead (45-26)
IN THE THIRD:
* The Gators saw the free throw line 11 times, converting for eight points (72.7)
* McGill snagged three of UF’s four steals
* Nine of Florida’s 16 points came from the bench
* The Gators went 4-14 from the field for a game low 28.6 percent
IN THE FOURTH:
* Florida went 10-16 from the field and 1-1 from the three-point line to tally 21 points
* 16 of Florida’s points came from inside the paint
* Salgues led in scoring for UF with five points
* Reynolds distributed two of Florida’s five assists
* Gassett led on the boards with four of UF’s 11 fourth period rebounds
CAREER HIGHS:
Eriny Kindred<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/eriny-kindred/16857>
Points
13
vs Marshall 12/08/24
FT Made
7
vs Marshall 12/08/24
FT Attempts
8
vs Marshall 12/08/24
Liv McGill<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/liv-mcgill/16880>
Assists
9
vs Marshall 12/08/24, vs Miami (FL) 11/16/24
Steals
4
vs Marshall 12/08/24, vs Hofstra 12/02/24
Blocks
3
vs Marshall 12/08/24
Laila Reynolds<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/laila-reynolds/16860>
3 FG Attempts
3
vs Marshall 12/08/24
WORTH NOTING:
* Four Gators reached double figures in scoring, Kyle (16), Kindred (13), Salgues (11), Gassett (10)
* Kyle posted her sixth double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds
* Kyle led Florida on the boards for her 32nd time as a Gator and ninth time this season
* McGill led UF in assists for the seventh time this season
* The Gators went 32-63 (50.8%) from the field
* The Gators have secured 20+ points in 23 of 40 (58%) quarters played this season
* Florida recorded 44 points inside the paint
* UF distributed its second most assists of the season with 20
* 33 of UF’s 82 points were credited to the bench
* Paige Clausen<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/paige-clausen/16855> hit her first block of her college career
* Florida held a combined 69 possessions and converted for 1.2 points per possession
* The Gators made 20 layups in 28 attempts
* Florida led for a combined 31 minutes and 46 seconds
GATOR BITES:
UF coach Kelly Rae Finley<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/kelly-rae-finley/1658> on Florida’s dominate second quarter and how to translate that going forward:
“That’s how you see us practice every day. That’s what our coaching staff and myself privy to see on a daily basis. For us it’s just a work in progress to make that translate consistently over 40 minutes every night. Overall, that was a feel-good quarter… we did shoot 62 percent from the floor so overall I thought our second quarter effort was outstanding.”
Senior Ra Shaya Kyle<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/ra-shaya-kyle/16858> on what the team’s mindset is heading into the final weeks before SEC play:
“We are just going to take it one game at a time. We want to win obviously, so I would say to win is the goal, and just to get better each and every game.”
TEAM RECORDS:
Florida: 6-4, (0-0 SEC)
Marshall: 3-5, (0-0 SBC)
SERIES RECORD:
The overall series between Florida and Marshall leans in favor of the Gators at 2-1.
NEXT UP:
Florida will return to the hardwood next Sunday, Dec. 15 and host the Longwood Lancers. The Lancers currently hold an overall record of 6-4 and have one remaining matchup before traveling to Gainesville.
The Lancers play McNeese at 3:30 p.m. today, marking their seventh home game of the 2024-25 season. Longwood is offensively led by Mariah Wilson, averaging 10.1 points per game, followed by Kiki McIntyre with 9.7 a game. On the defensive end, Otaifo Esenabhalu leads the lancers with an average 9.4 rebounds per game.
NEXT UP: Longwood (6-4, 0-0 Big South)
* Date: Sun., Dec. 15
* Site: Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center<https://floridagators.com/facilities/?id=2>
* Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=5515&type=Live>
* Watch: SECN<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/0fe52b85-d0da-4799-ad66-dee13a31ea80>
* Live stats: StatBroadcast<https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=552534>
* Tickets<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/en/buy/ism/V0IyNDA3?utm_source=WEB&utm_medium=SCHED&utm_campaign=WBK-SINGLE&camefrom=CFC_GATORS_WEB_SCHED_WBK-SINGLE>
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