Women’s basketball has added Aliyah Matharu, a transfer from Texas.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida women’s basketball head coach Kelly Rae Finley announced on Tuesday the signing of transfer Aliyah Matharu to the Gators’ 2022-23 roster.
Matharu joins the Gators after spending the previous season at Texas, appearing in all 36 contests for the Longhorns while averaging 12 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.4 assists. Her efforts on the court resulted in Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors.
“Aliyah is a proven three-level scorer with the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor,” Finley said. “She is a competitor whose experience and fun-loving personality will bring added excitement to the O’Dome! We are looking forward to welcoming Aliyah to Gator Nation this fall!
During her time with Texas, Matharu paced the team offensively with 12 points per game while leading the Longhorns with 77 made three-pointers. For the year, she ranked second in the Big 12 and 16th nationally with a 42.1 percentage from behind the arc. Two of the best games of her career came against Southeastern Conference opponents, including a 27-point outing at Tennessee (Nov. 21. 2021) and a 26-point performance, including a 5-of-9 mark from behind the arc, at Texas A&M on Dec. 5, 2021.
“I’m excited to join the program and I’ve heard nothing but good things about Coach Kelly and her staff,” Matharu said. “I think it means a lot when you’re able to start from the bottom and build-up. They did such a tremendous job last year and I’m looking forward to working with her, Coach CJ and the rest of the staff and team to make whatever impact I can. It’s truly an amazing opportunity and I can’t wait to get there!”
A native of Washington D.C., Matharu spent her freshman and sophomore campaigns at Mississippi State. As a sophomore she averaged 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game, ranking third on the team in scoring and was second in three-pointers made with 26. Matharu recorded three-or-more 3-pointers in six games and shot 50%-or-better in eight games. She matched her season high with 19 points against LSU on Feb. 25 and added three boards along with three steals. Her first 19-point effort of the season came on Jan. 3 against No. 13 Kentucky and were buoyed by three 3-pointers. She also added a career-high four assists versus the Wildcats.
The 2019-20 season saw Matharu named the SEC Freshman of the Week twice. She ranked second on the team in 3-pointers (33) and posted 11 double-digit scoring efforts, including six games with at least 15 points. Matharu first earned freshman of the week accolades on Jan. 28 following strong performances at Vanderbilt and South Carolina. She recorded 11 of Mississippi State’s 22 points in the fourth quarter against Vanderbilt and scored all 10 of her points against top-ranked South Carolina during a 2:05 stretch in the third quarter. She also earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors after posting back-to-back career games against Arkansas and Ole Miss, averaging 21.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game. At Ole Miss, she recorded a career-high 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting and knocked down a career-best five 3-pointers to go with four rebounds, two steals and an assist.
Prior to joining the collegiate ranks, Matharu helped Team USA win the silver medal at the World University Games in the summer of 2019. She finished with 12 points and three rebounds in a win over China during a quarterfinal contest.
Matharu was named the 2019 espnW HoopGurlz Stock-Riser of the Year after averaging 17.7 points and 3.5 steals per game as a high school senior at Bishop McNamara. She was rated as a five-star recruit by espnW HoopGurlz and was ranked No. 28 overall and seventh at the point guard position for the class of 2019. A 2019 MaxPreps All-America fifth team selection, Matharu also received All-MET first team honors as a senior in 2019 and fourth team recognition as a junior in 2018. She was named to the All-WCAC first team in 2018 and 2019 and helped Bishop McNamara climb to the top spot of the espnW 25 Power Rankings for five weeks as a senior.
2022-23 Florida Women’s Basketball Signees
Frieda Buhner | Fr. | F | 6-3 | Osnabruck, Germany | Osnabruck
Leilani Correa | Sr. | G | 6-0 | Manchester, N.J. | St. Johns
KK Deans | Sr. | G | 5-8 | Greensboro, N.C. | West Virginia
Ra Shaya Kyle | Jr. | C | 6-6 | Marion, Ind. | Purdue
Aliyah Matharu | Sr. | G | 5-7 | Washington, D.C. | Texas
Myka Perry | Fr. | G | 6-1 | Norman, Okla. | Norman HS
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