The Gators aren't ready to call it quits just yet.
No. 8-seed UF (24-7, 9-5 Southeastern Conference) played loose and inspired basketball Sunday and showed almost no sign of postseason inexperience as it knocked out No.9-seed Temple (21-10, 11-3 Atlantic 10 Conference) 70-57 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Storrs, Conn.
The Gators' reward for advancing to the second round for the first time since 2004: a date with No. 1 overall seed Connecticut (34-0, 16-0 Big East Conference) on Tuesday night on the Huskies' home court.
It didn't take long for the team to turn its attention to the next opponent.
"I'm just glad that I can say the words UConn now because I've had to hold it in for a whole week," UF assistant coach Susie Gardner said. "I've scouted them and not been able to say anything, except I called some friends just to talk about UConn just to get it out of my system. But now I can finally say it out loud. So I'm a little relieved there as well."
The Gators shot lights out in the first half against the Owls, draining just over 60 percent of their shots and building a 41-33 advantage at the break.
Temple closed to within 4 early in the second half and chipped into UF's lead on several occasions, but the Gators appeared to be in complete control throughout.
"We knew that Temple was going to come out fast, and they did," Gardner said. "But we felt like we were probably in better shape, and if we could continue, we might get the lead and sustain it."
Seniors Sha Brooks and Marshae Dotson didn't hold back in their first trip to the Big Dance in three years.
Brooks tallied a game-high 18 points, while Dotson, who started 4-of-4 shooting, totaled 13.
Junior Steffi Sorensen gave the Gators another big boost with her 13 points and 13 rebounds along with three assists and three steals.
Sorensen, as she has done for much of the season, got her hands on seemingly every loose ball, tipping it to a teammate if she couldn't corral it.
"She was a little disappointed, ironically, after the game," Gardner said. "I said, 'What's wrong?' She said, 'I had too many turnovers.' But that's the type of competitor that she is."
As well as the Gators shot against the Owls, Gardner was reminded that she was in the stands for the day's first game to watch the Huskies shoot 74 percent in the first half.
"I thought we just shot well for the game, and now I got my feelings hurt," Gardner said jokingly.
UF is in a position now where it will have everything to gain and seemingly very little to lose when it takes on Connecticut in the second round.
Gardner said she's looking forward to seeing how her team stacks up against one of the best.
"It's a great challenge," Gardner said. "It's fun to scout them. It's fun to think about playing perhaps one of the best teams in history. We aren't going to have to use any motivational tactics at all except talk about them, and they'll be excited."
A radio broadcast contributed to this report.
