A look of dejection spread across Jennifer George’s face as she returned to the Gators’ bench with 8:25 remaining in the game on Saturday.
George fouled out after being whistled for a block and watched the remainder of the contest from the sideline.
With Florida clinging to a 66-61 lead against James Madison, there was no guarantee the senior forward had not just played for the final time during her college career.
But junior guard Jaterra Bonds ensured George would have an opportunity for redemption.
After James Madison reeled off six consecutive points to grab a 67-66 advantage with 6:47 remaining, Bonds came through in the clutch yet again. She sank four free throws during the final 23 seconds to clinch an 85-80 victory in the JMU Convocation Center.
Afterward, Bonds said she was thinking about George, the team’s only senior, as she stepped to the foul line with a chance to ice the game.
Knowing George had not played up to her ability, Bonds wanted to give her teammate an opportunity to finish her career on a positive note — meaning the Gators needed another win.
“She started off well, but she had a pretty tough game throughout,” Bonds said of George. “We don’t want her season to end because she has worked so hard during her four years here.
“In the back of my mind, I just was always thinking, ‘I don’t want to see her season come to an end here at JMU in this type of environment with all these Gator haters.’”
After finishing the regular season as the team’s second-leading scorer, George has struggled to find consistent production during Florida’s run through the WNIT.
She scored just 5 points on 2-of-10 shooting on Saturday and collected only four rebounds. George is averaging 7 points during the WNIT, a number that would be lower if not for a 14-point performance against Charlotte on Wednesday.
Excluding her output against the Knights — George shot 7 for 10 during the game — she is shooting just 25 percent during the WNIT. Dating back to the Southeastern Conference tournament, George has shot only 35.2 percent and scored in double-figures just once since March 3.
Despite her dip in production, the Gators advanced to the Final Four, the furthest the program has been since losing 75-74 to Wisconsin in the 2000 WNIT championship game.
Coach Amanda Butler credited her team’s willingness to battle through adversity against James Madison. With George forced to watch from the bench after fouling out and sophomore Kayla Lewis nursing an injured ankle, the Gators stole another road victory — their fourth in as many games — with only six healthy players.
“Our team is playing with a tremendous amount of determination and heart,” Butler said.
“I’m just so proud of their toughness because with Kayla on the bench with her ankle swelling up and Jennifer having to play with four fouls before fouling out … it was a tremendous display of toughness and will.”
Florida will travel to Philadelphia to face Drexel on Wednesday at 7 p.m. for a spot in the WNIT championship game.
“It don’t matter who they put in front of us,” Bonds said. “We just want to come out with a win.”
A radio broadcast contributed to this report.
Contact Phil Heilman at pheilman@alligator.org.
Senior forward Jennifer George attempts a shot over Arkansas forward Quistelle Williams on Feb. 28 in the O’Connell Center.
