Coach Amanda Butler’s first career win against LSU on Sunday was almost a crippling loss.
After the Gators took a 14-point lead at the 6:36 mark, the Tigers went on a 12-0 run to make it a 55-53 game with 2:35 to play. But Florida managed to outscore LSU down the stretch, holding off the Tigers’ rally to secure the 62-58 victory.
Beating LSU gave UF its first home win in Southeastern Conference play and ended a two-game skid.
“To play good teams close doesn’t do anything for our confidence, and that’s who we were as a team last year,” Butler said.
“It’s huge for us going forward to not be chasing momentum but to actually feel like we have some.”
However, the celebration was short-lived as Butler confirmed postgame that sophomore Kayla Lewis would be out for the season due to a stress fracture in her hip.
Lewis, who is averaging 6.7 points and three rebounds per game, has not played since Florida’s 72-58 win against then-No. 21 Florida State on Nov. 17.
Lewis, who switched from guard to forward during the offseason to help shore up the Gators’ inside game, began to feel discomfort against the Seminoles. At the time, Butler said she would take a “wait-and-see” approach to Lewis’ injury, but now Florida will have to compensate for her absence.
With the exception of junior forward Jennifer George, Florida’s post play has been inconsistent and underwhelming.
The Gators’ struggles down low have been magnified by a 2-3 start to SEC play.
Florida has been outscored in the paint 142-122 by league foes, an average of four points per game in five contests that have all been decided by six points or less.
While the Gators’ post players have had to get by without Lewis since mid-November, the situation has become more desperate now that there is no possibility for her return.
As the team leader with 13.6 points and 9.6 boards per game, George recently saw her consecutive double-double streak end at eight games after a 15-point, eight-rebound performance in last week’s loss to No. 15 Georgia.
George then went cold in Sunday’s 62-58 win over LSU, playing just four minutes in the first half because of foul trouble.
She ended the game with six points, her worst offensive showing since a four-point effort in a 63-49 loss to then-No. 11 Rutgers on Dec. 2.
Fortunately for the Gators, a limited George paved the way for redshirt senior Ndidi Madu to shoulder the burden down low.
Starting in place of struggling senior center Azania Stewart for the second consecutive game, Madu scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds.
“We can do this every night. We just have to be more consistent,” Madu said.
Without Lewis, Florida will rely on Madu to become a consistent No. 2 option in the post.
Madu has taken advantage of her increased playing time, scoring the Gators’ first points against the Tigers and the Bulldogs.
“Starting, I know have to be aggressive,” Madu said. “That’s the shot my teammates and my coaches expect me to hit, and when I’m open, when I get it, I’m going to take it.”
Contact Joe Morgan at joemorgan@alligator.org
Florida sophomore forward Kayla Lewis is out for the remainder of the season with a stress fracture in her hip.
