The Gators believe in making an impact in the first four minutes of the game. But after a number of close losses, there’s a new time emphasis surrounding the team.
Forty minutes.
The Florida women’s basketball team (14-11, 4-7 Southeastern Conference) came out flat and never held in a lead in a two-point loss to Ole Miss a week ago, and it trailed by 11 at halftime against Vanderbilt before surging back and forcing double overtime in the 103-97 loss.
“I’m proud of our fight, but like I told the girls and say to myself, we just have to have that same fight from the beginning,” guard Deana Allen said. “Our problem is we just play with that fight in different moments of the game.”
The Gators gave up multiple easy buckets against the Commodores when their defense was slow to get back in transition. It was the clear-cut difference-maker in another close game for Florida.
“When you look at a game that could have decided by one possession, you’ve got to visit those things,” coach Amanda Butler said.
While last month’s meeting with Tennessee (22-2, 10-0 SEC), an 83-40 shellacking, certainly was more than a one-possession difference, Florida made similar mistakes. And the Gators realize they can’t afford to have that same mentality this time.
Allen said they can’t concern themselves with the name on the front of their opponents’ jerseys, adding that the way UF played in the second half and overtime against Vanderbilt gives them confidence going forward.
“We’ve just got to believe that we can do it,” Allen said. “The last time we met up with [Tennessee] we gave them too much respect.”
Allen and fellow guard Brittany Shine figure to play a prominent role against the Vols. Shine has come on as of late, and she led the Gators in scoring in the meeting in Gainesville. Allen is the team’s leading scorer in SEC play and has shown a knack for draining clutch shots.
But their biggest advantage may be their size. Shine and Allen are the tallest of team’s guards at 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10, respectively. After Tennessee outrebounded Florida by 20 in the prior matchup, its size and ability to play close to the basket will be critical in Knoxville.
“We want to get this ‘W’ bad, but we’ve just got to play our game,” Shine said.
Butler agreed.
“Can you play poorly and beat Tennessee?” she asked, answering her own question. “No.”
But that didn’t stop her from saying she believes the Gators can pull off an upset against the No. 5 team in the country.
“You have to play well, there’s no question about that,” Butler said. “But we feel like we can play with anyone in the country.”
