ChompTalk.com

For the second straight night, the Florida Gators defeated the Michigan Wolverines on the hardwood in Charlotte, NC.

Following the double-overtime victory by the UF men, the Lady Gators dominated the action against the Wolverines to claim their eighth win of the 2023-24 campaign.

Florida point guard Aliyah Matharu tied her career high with 27 points to lead the Gators to a 82-65 win in the Jumpman Invitational Wednesday.

Through the first quarter the game was actually played extremely close. Both teams recorded 19 points in the opening quarter with Matharu and Ra Shaya Kyle combining for 15 of those.

Florida opened the scoring just eight seconds into the period on a Jeriah Warren trey, the quickly saw their lead swell to eight after five straight points by Matharu. Florida outscored Michigan 26-13 in the second to take a 45-32 lead into the break.

The Gators continued to expand their lead after the intermission, building the advantage up to twenty with 6:27 left in the third following an Alberte Rimdal triple. Florida would continue to tack on points and make it a 23-point game by the end of the third.

The final quarter saw mostly back and forth action between the two teams with Florida’s win never being contested. The Gators were even able to empty the bench and play little used reserves until the final buzzer.

Matharu led the way on an efficient 9-16 from the floor, including 5-9 from three-point range. Leilani Correa added 16 points on 7-11 shooting. Kyle and Rimdal each put up 13 points to round out the double digit scorers for the Gators.

For the game, the Gators shot 57% from the field while holding Michigan to just 37%. Florida also outrebounded the Wolverines by three.

The Gators have one more tune-up before SEC play opens. Florida will host Winthrop on Dec. 30 in their first home game since Nov. 17.

The Golden Eagles are 6-6 on the year and dropped a 55-49 contest at North Florida Wednesday.