The Florida women’s basketball team overcame a slow start to defeat Vanderbilt 67-58 on Sunday in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Gators (11-11, 3-6 Southeastern Conference) were efficient from all parts of the floor, hitting 51.2 percent of their shots from the field and making a season-high 94.8 percent of their free throws.
Redshirt senior Kayla Lewis posted her third double-double of the season by scoring a team-high 18 points and 11 rebounds on Saturday. Lewis has posted double-digit scoring efforts in 13 games this season.
Cassie Peoples (11 points), Carlie Needles (10 points) and January Miller (10 points) also scored in double-digits for the Gators while Ronni Williams — who fouled out with 5:28 left to play — also added nine points off the bench.
The Gators started the game with a 6-0 deficit before going on a 16-3 run spanning 5:13 to take a 16-9 lead over the Commodores (12-10, 3-6 SEC) with 10:59 remaining in the first half.
Florida never trailed for the remainder of the game.
The Gators went into halftime with a 32-22 advantage, marking the first time in SEC play that Florida led at halftime by at least 10 points.
UF started the second half on a 5-0 run off of two Miller free throws and a three-pointer by Peoples to take a 15-point lead — its largest lead of the game ‚ before Vanderbilt began to claw its way back.
The Commodores, led by sophomore forward Marqu’es Webb (17 points, 12 rebounds), cut the Gators’ lead to as little as five points (43-38) with 10:14 remaining in the game, but could not complete the comeback.
Florida has a midweek bye before playing No. 6 Tennessee in the O’Connell Center on Sunday at 2 p.m.
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Kayla Lewis attempts a shot during Florida’s 81-76 loss against Missouri on Feb. 20 in the O’Connell Center. Lewis will be the Gators’ only senior on the team’s roster next year.
