Unable to build off its recent success and modest winning streak, the UF women’s basketball team fell to High Point on Monday night 75-68 in the championship game of the Gator Holiday Classic.
The scouting report for the Panthers may not have labeled them as a shooting threat, but that’s exactly the challenge they presented to the Gators (5-6).
“They shot way beyond what they normally do, but that’s the game,” coach Amanda Butler said. “You’ve gotta be able to adjust. We never adjusted to their shooters.”
High Point torched the Gators on 7-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc in the first half, and shot 50 percent from the floor in that frame.
The Panthers cooled down from 3-point range in the second half but still managed to shoot at a 44-percent clip.
“It was really important to (High Point) to beat us tonight and that’s how they played.”
Butler commended the Panthers’ ability to set the tone early in the game and likewise chastised her players’ defensive effort.
It was the same old story for the Gators, who have struggled this season to find a consistent stroke from downtown. While the team shot a steady 42 percent from the floor, none of the long-distance shooters really got into a groove and the team finished a meager 20 percent from 3-point range.
Florida trailed for the majority of the game but came within striking distance and even took a brief lead off a Jennifer George layup with 4:51 remaining. High Point’s Ashlee’ Samuels answered with a layup of her own to put the Panthers back up 60-59.
With the game on the line, the free-throw line shooting was another stat that jumped off the page.
High Point was able to ice the game at the charity stripe, draining 16 of its 19 attempts. The Gators on the other hand, didn’t attempt as many shots (13) and only converted 53 percent of their free throws.
While the Gators were punished on the perimeter, they dominated the paint for the second straight game, outscoring the Panthers 40-18 and gaining a slight advantage on the boards, 39-33.
With the possibility for some holiday cheer and a chance to go above .500 before Christmas gone, Butler hoped the sting of the loss would give her team something to think about until their next game on Dec. 28 against Ohio.
“You would like to be able to go home and have a better taste in your mouth, but we have a bitter taste in our mouths right now hopefully,” Butler said. “I hope we go home feeling that way and ready to play when we return.”
