The Gators lost its first game of the season, falling 83-73 to Miami Saturday afternoon in the O’Dome.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida women’s basketball started home Gator action Saturday afternoon falling 83-73 to Miami. Now home action moves across Gale Lemerand Drive as Gator football faces No. 21 LSU in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at 3:30 p.m.
Jeriah Warren<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jeriah-warren/16862> led Florida’s offensive effort with a career high 25-point performance. Three other Gators also made it into double figures for scoring, Ra Shaya Kyle<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/ra-shaya-kyle/16858> (14), Kenza Salgues<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/kenza-salgues/16861> (13) and Liv McGill<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/liv-mcgill/16880> (11). Defensively, Florida was led by Kyle with eight of the Gators’ 27 rebounds.
Overall, the first half proved to be a challenge for the Gators, shooting a season low 37.9 percent from the field (11-29). However, UF’s momentum shifted quickly in the second half as the Gators hit a 64.7 percent from the field in the third quarter. Florida also went on the largest scoring run of the game with 16 straight points to end the third quarter (2:34).
The Gators continued to whittle away at the Hurricanes lead, getting the score down to a three-point margin at 57-54, and 59-56 before entering the final period of play. Despite the offensive effort, Florida was ultimately unable to stop Miami’s Haley Cavinder who led the Hurricanes with 31-points.
IN THE FIRST:
* Warren led Florida in scoring with five of the Gators 17 points
* Eight of Florida’s points came from inside the paint
* UF ended the first shooting a 46.7 percent from the field (7-15)
* Kyle led on the boards with four of Florida’s six rebounds
* The Gators totaled 19 possessions in the first 10 minutes of play
IN THE SECOND:
* Warren led UF’s offense with eight points, totaling 13 for the first half
* Six of Warren’s second quarter points came from the three-point line (2-5)
* The Gators’ six rebounds were spread across five players
* Eriny Kindred<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/eriny-kindred/16857> (2), Alexia Gassett<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/alexia-gassett/16882> (1), Kyle (1), McGill (1), Warren (1)
* At half Florida trailed Miami by 15 (44-29)
IN THE THIRD:
* Kindred scored the first four points of the second half in under 60 seconds
* Warren and Salgues were hot from the three hitting a combined four buckets to tally 12 points
* Florida distributed a game high seven assists
* McGill accounted for four of those assists
* The Gators got as close as three points twice
* 57-54 (2:34), and 59-56 (1:23)
* Florida ended the third period shooting a game best 64.7 percent from the field (11-17)
* Florida’s 27 points in the third was its highest of the day
IN THE FOURTH:
* Florida snagged a game best five steals
* The Gators secured 10 of their 17 points in the paint
* Kyle shot 100 percent from the field (3-3) to lead the Gators with six points
* Florida saw the free throw line once compared to Miami’s eight attempts
* Florida closed out the second half out-rebounding the Hurricanes 15-13
CAREER HIGHS:
Jeriah Warren<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jeriah-warren/16862>
Points
25
vs. Miami 11/16/24
Made FG
9
vs. Miami 11/16/24
FG Attempts
21
vs. Miami 11/16/24
3 FG Made
4
vs. Florida Atlantic 11/4/24, vs. Miami 11/16/24
3 FG Attempts
11
vs. Miami 11/16/24
Kenza Salgues<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/kenza-salgues/16861>
Made FG
4
vs. Fla. Atlantic 11/04/24, vs. Miami 11/16/24, vs. Bethune-Cookman 11/09/23
Liv McGill<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/liv-mcgill/16880>
Assists
9
vs. Miami 11/16/24
Steals
3
vs. Miami 11/16/24
3 FG Attempts
5
vs. Miami 11/16/24
WORTH NOTING:
* Florida is now 14-3 at home versus the Hurricanes
* Four Gators reached double figures in scoring, Warren (25), Kyle (14), Salgues (13), and McGill (11)
* Florida has scored 20+ points in every quarter this season except for four
* Q3 vs. Florida Atlantic on Monday, Nov. 4 (15 points)
* Q1 (17), Q2 (12), and Q4 (17), vs. Miami on Saturday, Nov. 16
* For four consecutive outings, McGill has led the Gators in assists
* 6 vs. Florida Atlantic on Monday, Nov. 4
* 6 vs. FAMU on Thursday, Nov. 7
* 8 vs. Chicago State on Tuesday, Nov. 12
* 9 vs. Miami on Saturday, Nov. 16
* Three Gators hit double-digits in scoring for a fourth consecutive outing
* Warren (21, 13, 19, 25), McGill (14, 21, 21, 11), Kyle (17, 19, 12, 14)
* Kyle led Florida on the boards for the third time this season and 26th time as a Gator
DID YOU KNOW:
Liv McGill<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/liv-mcgill/16880> is the first Gator freshman in almost 19 years to start her collegiate career with four consecutive double-digit scoring efforts. She turned in 14 points in the season opening win versus Florida Atlantic, posted 21 versus Florida A&M on Nov. 7 and 21 once more versus Chicago State on Nov. 12. Today versus Miami McGill hit 11.
The last was Sha Brooks<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/sha-brooks/647> in the 2005-06 campaign. Brooks opened her Gator career with 14 points on Nov. 18, 2005 in a home win versus St. Francis (N.Y.), followed with 18 points in a road victory at Seton Hall on Nov. 18, 2005, scored 14 in a loss at Florida State Nov. 23 and 19 versus Stetson on Nov 27.
GATOR BITES:
UF coach Kelly Rae Finley<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/kelly-rae-finley/1658> on her overall thoughts about the first and second halves:
“I thought that we played with tremendous effort and heart in the second half… I think that the first half, and maybe even just the second quarter was the first time that this team has felt adversity and had to really settle into a game. We were really excited for this game, as we should’ve been, but I liked our resolve and how we kind of challenged each other. We had a look in our eye at halftime, like we know what we need to do, and that’s a sign of poise, composure, and maturity of a team.”
Senior guard Jeriah Warren<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jeriah-warren/16862> on what motivates her as competition gets tougher:
“It definitely brings out my competitive nature, but I just try to focus on my team and not look too far into other teams. I am just here to get the job done.”
TEAM RECORDS:
Florida: 3-1 (0-0 SEC)
Miami: 3-0 (0-0 ACC)
SERIES RECORD:
Florida leads Miami 28-15 in the all-time series.
NEXT UP:
The Gators make their first road trip of the season next Friday at Florida State. The Seminoles’ three wins came in home action versus North Florida (119-49), Florida A&M (93-54) and Samford (101-68). FSU’s lone loss came at Illinois (83-74). The Seminoles have one more home game, Monday versus North Carolina Central, before hosting the Gators Friday evening.
NEXT UP: at Florida State (3-1, 0-0 ACC)
* Date: Fri., Nov. 22
* Time: 7 p.m. ET
* Site: Tucker Center<https://seminoles.com/facilities/tucker-center-mbb-wbb-/3>
* Stream: ACC Network<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/37d8384a-71b8-44f1-b5aa-c995559f02d8>
* Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=5513&type=Live>
* Stats: StatBroadcast<https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=552631&vislive=fla>
* Tickets<https://seminoles.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventInfo?ticketCode=GS:IBM:W25:W05:&linkID=fsuse&dataAccId=526&locale=en_US&siteId=ev_fsuse>
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