The UF women's basketball team's season opener on Friday night didn't go as well as the team had hoped, thanks to a feisty underdog.
The Gators' road trip to Florida Gulf Coast proved to be no snoozer, and the Eagles escaped with an 88-86 victory, avenging its two defeats to UF last season.
"It's very obvious how prepared they were, how emotionally up they were for this game," UF coach Amanda Butler said. "We knew we were going to be tested, a lot of adverse conditions."
UF stormed back after being down 13 with about 11 minutes left in the second half to take a 76-74 lead with about six minutes remaining.
The two teams went back and forth from there with six lead changes.
Florida Gulf Coast regained the lead 85-84 with about 35 seconds to go and held on for the win.
The Gators missed two key layups in the final minute-and-a-half that would have given them the lead.
"We got the looks that we wanted there those last few possessions, we just didn't put them in the hole," Butler said. "You can't choke it down when you've got that opportunity to put the ball into the hole."
Butler was disappointed with her team's defense throughout the game. The Gators allowed the Eagles to shoot 50 percent from the field and 57 percent from behind the arc, a recipe for disaster.
"We obviously still have a lot of work to do," Butler said.
There were a few bright spots for UF.
Jennifer Mossor scored a career-high 22 points in the loss, rebounding from a poor outing in the Gators' exhibition game.
"It was great to see her feeling it, especially hitting a few big threes for us and making plays down the stretch in the second half that gave us a chance to win," Butler said.
Marshae Dotson added 22 points, while Sharielle Smith fell just short of a double-double with 16 points and 9 rebounds.
It was somewhat of a homecoming for junior guard Steffi Sorensen, who added 9 points and fouled out in her first game in the Orange and Blue.
Sorensen began her career at Florida Gulf Coast the same season the Eagles went to the Division II national title game.
The Gators will have to try and rebound from its first loss on Monday night at 7 in the O'Connell Center when it hosts Jacksonville, and if last year's any indication, it won't be easy.
The Dolphins defeated UF last season in Jacksonville, 75-64.
"Another excellent team. Our state, I think, is very talented this year," Butler said. "We went to Jacksonville and lost last year.
"We've got to bounce back and get ourselves ready to defend our home court."
A radio broadcast contributed to this report.
