Another ranked Southeastern Conference foe, another missed opportunity for coach Amanda Butler and the Gators.
Three days after coming up short in a 78-71 loss to Texas A&M on the road, Florida again wasted a chance to earn a signature victory, dropping a critical conference matchup with No. 13 Georgia in the O’Connell Center.
Led by senior forward Jasmine Hassell, the Bulldogs escaped the Gators’ upset bid in a 62-57 victory on Sunday.
The loss drops UF (15-11, 4-8 SEC) to just 2-6 in its past eight games.
“It’s very frustrating because it feels like the things that are in our control, we are not controlling,” Butler said. “As fundamental as an individual’s energy level or focus and how hard they are listening to what we are trying to do. Little things like that become game-changers.”
Said senior Jennifer George: “We have the potential, this team, to be really good.”
But potential has not translated into victories. Florida is 0-6 against ranked opponents during conference play. Five of those losses have come by eight points or fewer in what has become an increasingly frustrating season for the Gators.
Butler’s team has been unable to take the next step in its development and will likely miss the NCAA Tournament because of it.
“We’re a young team, and we are learning the lessons the hard way, unfortunately,” Butler said.
Hassell scored 16 points and pulled down 16 rebounds for the Bulldogs (21-4, 9-3 SEC), who overcame 36.7 percent shooting from the floor to earn their first victory in Gainesville since Jan. 24, 2008.
George, Hassell’s counterpart in the paint, scored 13 of her game-high 17 points in the second half to keep Florida within striking distance.
Freshman forward Christin Mercer connected on a field goal to pull the Gators within one at 52-51. But on the next possession, Georgia senior forward Anne Marie Armstrong connected on a three-point attempt with 3:03 remaining to help quell Florida’s second-half comeback.
A three-pointer from junior guard Khaalidah Miller gave Georgia a 60-55 lead with 39 seconds remaining to secure the victory.
“It was obviously a battle,” UGA coach Andy Landers said. “I was really proud of our team. … It wasn’t design. It wasn’t scouting report. They made plays.”
The Gators controlled much of the first half, flustering the Bulldogs into 11 turnovers with pressure defense. Landers was forced to use multiple timeouts to limit the damage and compose his team.
“I think we had like four turnovers in the first 5 or 6 minutes of the basketball game,” Landers said. “Unforced errors. Just carelessness.”
Florida took a 24-12 lead on a jumper by freshman guard Sydney Moss with 8:18 remaining in the first half, but Georgia responded.
Using a 12-0 run during a 6-minute span, the Bulldogs entered halftime with a 30-28 lead.
The loss is Florida’s second to Georgia this season. The Gators lost 69-52 in Athens, Ga., on Jan. 27.
Sunday, though more compelling, was equally frustrating for Butler.
“Certainly, we failed today. There is not any question,” Butler said.
“But most of the time the greatest lessons are learned in the face of failure.”
Contact Phillip Heilman at pheilman@alligator.org
Sydney Moss pulls up for a jump shot in the second half of Florida's 62-57 loss to Georgia on Sunday. Moss and the Gators are now just 4-8 in the Southeastern Conference.
