The Gators opened up conference play with a tough loss in Tuscaloosa. Florida had four players in double-figures for scoring, but ultimately fell 79-69 to top-20 ranked Alabama.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- In SEC opening night Florida faced No. 19 Alabama, falling 79-69 inside Coleman Coliseum. The Gators had four players secure 11 or more points, and six players contribute on the boards. Overall UF shot 46.4 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Tide 35-32.
Freshman Liv McGill<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/liv-mcgill/16880> led the Gators on offense with an 18-point performance, marking her 13th game this season in double figures. Ra Shaya Kyle<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/ra-shaya-kyle/16858> led on the defensive end with 13 rebounds to put her season average at 10.1.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
IN THE FIRST:
* UF was held to a game low 12-points
* Alexia Gassett<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/alexia-gassett/16882> led on the boards with two of UF’s five rebounds
* McGill got in foul trouble early, tallying two in the first five minutes of play
* The Gators shot 50 percent from the three hitting two of their four attempts
* The score favored Alabama at 21-12 to end the first quarter
IN THE SECOND:
* Florida went 6-7 from the field in the first five minutes to cut the Tide’s lead down to six (31-25)
* The Gators shot a game high 64.3 percent from the field (9-14)
* 14 of UF’s 19 points were tallied inside the paint
* Reynolds led Florida on offense shooting 100 percent from the field (3-3) to tally six points
* Kyle led on the boards snagging four rebounds
* UF out-rebounded Alabama 11-3
* Going into the half Florida trailed by 10 (41-31)
IN THE THIRD:
* The Gators shot a game low 29.4 percent from the field (5-17)
* Warren led in scoring with six of Florida’s 15 points
* UF went 4-5 from the three-point line to shoot a game best 80 percent from behind the arc
* Kyle led on the boards with six of UF’s 11 rebounds
IN THE FOURTH:
* The Gators recorded a game high 23 points
* McGill led in scoring with eight points
* Florida saw the free throw line 11 times, capitalizing on seven trips (7-11)
* UF brought Alabama’s lead down to 10 with a minute left on the clock (79-69)
* The Gators forced a game high– five turnovers on the Tide
WORTH NOTING:
* Florida had four players in double figures for scoring
* McGill (18), Warren (12), Gassett (12), and Kyle (11)
* McGill led Florida in scoring for the eighth time this season
* Florida recorded a season high 50 percent from the three-point line (9-18)
* UF grabbed 35 rebounds with six players contributing on the boards
* Kyle led on the boards for her 13th time this season and 36th time as a Gator
* Kyle secured her ninth double-double of the season and 21st at UF to remain in the nation’s top-10
* Seven Gators distributed one or more assists for a game total of 11
* The Gators have secured 20+ points in 34 of 60 quarters played this season
* 26 of Florida’s 69 points were tallied inside the paint
* Florida recorded a game total of 65 possessions
* The Gators made seven layups in 18 driving attempts
CAREER HIGHS:
Alexia Gassett<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/alexia-gassett/16882>
Points
12
vs Bellarmine 11/16/23, vs Chicago St. 11/12/24, at Alabama 01/02/25
Liv McGill<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/liv-mcgill/16880>
3 FG Attempts
8
vs North Florida 12/21/24, at Clemson 12/05/24, at Alabama 01/02/25
Jeriah Warren<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jeriah-warren/16862>
3 FG Made
4
vs Fla. Atlantic 11/04/24, vs Miami (FL) 11/16/24, at Alabama 01/02/25
GATOR BITES:
Head coach Kelly Rae Finley’s overall thoughts on Alabama and UF’s performance:
“We were really focused, we had a great week of practice leading up to this game, but Alabama is a really good team and a good challenge. They are a bunch of veterans at every position… I thought we played with much more poise than we have against other opponents with similar caliber. Overall, it is conference play and we get another opportunity on Sunday against Georgia.”
TEAM RECORDS:
Florida: 9-6 (0-1 SEC)
Alabama: 14-1 (1-0 SEC)
SERIES RECORD:
The all-time series between Florida and Alabama favors the Crimson Tide by three at 33-30.
NEXT UP:
Florida will return to Gainesville and host the Georgia Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon. The Gators second SEC contest of the year will tip-off at noon and be aired on SECN.
NEXT UP: Georgia (8-7, 0-1 SEC)
* Date: Sun., Jan. 5
* Time: 12 p.m. ET
* Site: Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center<https://floridagators.com/facilities/?id=2>
* Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM<https://admin.floridagators.com/watch/?Live=5548&type=Live>
* Watch: SECN<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/fcd9ec10-1d8b-4881-aba8-ac310d3b4798>
* Live stats: StatBroadcast<https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=552545>
* Tickets<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/en/buy/ism/V0IyNDEw?utm_source=WEB&utm_medium=SCHED&utm_campaign=WBK-SINGLE&camefrom=CFC_GATORS_WEB_SCHED_WBK-SINGLE>
* Promotional Giveaway: 400 lunchboxes presented by O2B Kids
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