Jaterra Bonds is ready for a rematch.
Bonds scored 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting as Florida crushed Winthrop 85-53 in the second round of the WNIT at Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill, S.C., on Monday.
With the victory, the Gators advance to the third round of the WNIT. Florida will face Charlotte, a team the Gators have developed a rivalry with during the past few seasons, on Wednesday night at 7.
Florida was in a similar position two years ago, meeting Charlotte in the second round of the WNIT.
After taking a 17-point second-half lead, the Gators watched the 49ers storm back to grab an 81-77 overtime victory, ending UF’s season in heartbreaking fashion. Bonds, then a freshman, led the Gators with 23 points in defeat.
Coach Amanda Butler spent two seasons at Charlotte prior to taking the same position at Florida, meaning there is a healthy dose of familiarity between the two teams.
The Gators also feel they have a score to settle.
“They came out, and they beat us the last time,” Bonds said. “But I don’t plan on that happening again.”
After battling to earn a first-round victory against Florida International, Florida buried Winthrop (21-12) by halftime. The Eagles, who were coming off their first-ever postseason win — a 65-51 victory against Florida Gulf Coast — could not contain the Gators’ backcourt.
January Miller connected on a pair of three-pointers in the first half, scoring 13 of her game-high 16 points before halftime. Kayla Lewis added nine of her 15 points before the break, and Bonds chipped in with eight of her 12.
After finishing with a career-high 28 points against FIU, Sydney Moss notched a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
“We just wanted to make sure that we came out there in the first couple of minutes and put our foot down,” Bonds said. “These last few games, we have come out and been down, so we wanted to make sure we had the upper hand and push the tempo and run.”
The Gators refused to relent after halftime, as Florida (20-14) led by as many as 35 points in the second half.
“I really loved our tempo,” Butler said. “I thought we played great defense, and we had Florida tempo. That’s really, really important for us.”
Monday was the third consecutive game the Gators faced a conference player of the year.
After losing to Tennessee and Meighan Simmons, the co-Southeastern Conference Player of Year, in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament, Florida withstood 37 points from Jerica Coley, the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, to earn a win in the first round of the WNIT.
Winthrop guard Dequesha McClanahan, the Big South Player of the Year, finished with a team-best 15 points, while collecting five rebounds and five assists.
But nothing could slow the Gators, who rolled to their largest margin of victory since beating Alabama 87-54 on Feb. 3.
“You have to take advantage of what’s at hand and handle your business each and every time you step out on the court,” Bonds said.
“We’re still playing for a championship. No, it’s not the NCAA, it’s the NIT, but we still want to bring a championship home.”
A radio broadcast contributed to this report.
Contact Phillip Heilman at pheilman@alligator.org.
Junior guard Jaterra Bonds shoots during Florida’s 69-58 win against Arkansas on Feb. 28 in the O’Connell Center. Bonds scored 12 points against Winthrop on Monday.
