The Tennessee program that Pat Summitt built is one of the most storied in women’s college basketball, so it isn’t often that fans leave the Volunteers’ Thompson-Boling Arena before the end of a game.
But on Thursday night, in Knoxville, Tennessee, that’s exactly what happened when unranked Florida came in and rocked the No. 12 Vols out of Rocky Top, 74-66.
Coming into the game, UF was 3-48 all-time against Tennessee, with only one of those wins coming in Knoxville. Florida can now add one more win to its total, despite the odds being stacked heavily against it.
The Gators were coming off a loss, got into foul trouble and, perhaps most importantly, were without their head coach.
Amanda Butler, herself a native of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, was unable to be at the game due to a family emergency. In her place was assistant coach Shimmy Gray-Miller, who served as head coach of Saint Louis University from 2005-12.
"I think that was probably one of the most complete games we’ve played as far as sticking to the gameplan and going with what works," coach Gray-Miller said after the win. "Just, gosh darn, we’re so tough."
With Gray-Miller at the helm, Florida didn’t seem to miss a beat despite a rough start.
Down by as many as 11 in the first quarter, it didn’t look like the game was going to be close. But, unlike in the Gators’ loss to No. 8 Mississippi State on Sunday, UF was able to stay out of an insurmountable hole.
When the time came to close, the Gators did.
"Excuse me," Gray-Miller said after the game, noticeably emotional. "I am just so happy and so proud, so incredibly proud of this team and to be a Gator."
Perhaps the most pivotal moment of the game came courtesy of Brooke Copeland. Mostly used this season in a reserve role for five minutes per game, she came off the bench late in the third quarter and made a three-pointer to put Florida up by one, 50-49.
That gave Florida its first lead since the game’s opening minutes.
The lead didn’t remain intact for the game’s duration, but the momentum did. From there on out, it never felt as though the Vols were going to be able to catch the Gators.
"We said that no matter what happened, we weren’t going to be perfect, but we were going to be tough for 40 minutes," Gray-Miller said. "And we were."
Eleanna Christinaki, the freshman phenom from Athens, Greece, paced the team with 18 points and flirted with a triple-double for the second time this year by adding six rebounds and eight assists.
Redshirt senior Carlie Needles also played well. She converted on 5-of-8 three pointers and was instrumental in maintaining the lead in the game’s waning minutes.
Thursday marked Florida’s second win against a ranked opponent this season, as they defeated then-No. 7 Florida State in the season’s second game. The Gators are now in position to earn a ranking when the new AP Poll comes out.
While Butler couldn’t be at the game, Gray-Miller was adamant that this was still Butler’s team and a Butler signature win — tough and hard-fought.
"This is Amanda Butler’s team. They have taken on her personality — these kids are tough, they are competitive — Butler was here tonight."
Butler spoke with Gray-Miller and the team immediately following the game on FaceTime which, much like the win, was an experience that both her and her team will never forget.
"It meant everything," Gray-Miller said.
A radio broadcast contributed to this report.
Follow Ethan Bauer on Twitter @ebaueri
UF guard Eleanna Christinaki prepares to shoot during Florida’s loss to Mississippi State on Jan. 3, 2016.
