The Florida Gators women’s basketball team is on a roll. Just three days after routing No. 7 Tennessee in Gainesville, the Gators took their show on the road and escaped Athens with another Top-25 victory.
The Gators rallied for the win with an 8-0 run to finish and held UGA scoreless the final 4:30 of play as the completed the upset, 54-51.
Much of the game was a defensive struggle as neither team shot 35% from the floor. Florida actually got out to a 7-0 lead as UGA opened missing their first twelve field goal attempts.
Entering the second period with a 9-8 lead, both teams found a stride, but neither team gaining much of a lead. The Gators entered the halftime break with a 26-22 advantage.
The third quarter saw the Bulldogs start strong and even take a 37-30 lead, their largest of the contest. However, Florida responded with a quick 5-0 run to close the gap. The third finished with Georgia possessing a 42-38 lead.
The Bulldogs managed just nine points in the final frame, making just four of fifteen attempts. Jordyn Merritt, Kiki Smith, and Zippy Broughton keyed in the final run for the Gators.
Overall, the Gators made just 18 of 55 (33%) and 3-13 from three point range. Florida outrebounded the Bulldogs, 46-35.
While Kiki Smith struggled from the field (3-13), she was picked up by several of her teammates including Merritt, Broughton (11 points each) and Rickards (10 and 9 rebounds).
The Gators (17-6 overall, 7-3 SEC) are all alone in third place in the conference standings. Florida will travel to Mississippi State as their three game road-swing continues on Thursday. The Bulldogs are 15-7 overall and 5-4 in league play.