Florida defeated the Pride Monday evening at home. The 75-48 win marks the Gators fourth victory of the 2024-25 season.
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<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/me-arah-o-neal/16879> and Senior Ra Shaya Kyle<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/ra-shaya-kyle/16858>. 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<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/eriny-kindred/16857> 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<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/eriny-kindred/16857>
FG Made
4
vs Florida 01/01/23, vs Chicago St. 11/12/24, vs Hofstra 12/02/24
Liv McGill<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/liv-mcgill/16880>
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<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/me-arah-o-neal/16879>
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<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/laila-reynolds/16860>
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 30th 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<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/kelly-rae-finley/1658> 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<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/laila-reynolds/16860> 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<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/me-arah-o-neal/16879> 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)
* Date: Thurs., Dec. 5
* Time: 8 p.m. ET
* Site: Littlejohn Coliseum<https://clemsontigers.com/sports/gymnastics/facilities/littlejohn-coliseum/>
* Stream: ACC Network<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/93b0f59f-5595-4f3c-8fe4-352eabfc52ac>
* Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=5513&type=Live>
* Stats: StatBroadcast<https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=551936>
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