The Florida Gators women’s basketball team faced a tough test in a hostile Tallahassee environment Friday evening. The Gators entered the game without one of their key players in freshman wing Me’Arah O’Neal, who was sidelined after sustaining an injury in their previous matchup against Miami.
Florida State, the nation’s highest-scoring offense, entered the game averaging 101.2 points per contest. Florida’s defense was unable to rise to the occasion in a 74-98 loss on Friday evening.
Freshman guard Liv McGill led the way for the Gators with a career-high 28 points, shooting 11-of-17 from the field and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line. McGill was one of three Gators to score in double figures.
However, her strong performance was tempered by a career-high seven turnovers. Florida struggled with ball security as a team, committing 18 turnovers while also having eight of their shots blocked by the Seminoles.
Despite outshooting Florida State from the field with a 47% to 37% advantage, the Gators struggled to find any offensive momentum, with the Seminoles attempting 19 more shots. Florida went 28-of-60 from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Alongside McGill, senior center Ra Shaya Kyle tied her season high with 19 points, and senior Alexia Dizeko contributed 10. Sophomore guard Laila Reynolds made her season debut, logging six points on 2-of-10 shooting while recording 29 minutes.
The game shifted decisively in the second half when the Seminoles went on a 20-0 run, showcasing their offensive firepower and leaving the Gators scrambling to respond. Florida State’s pace and relentless scoring during that stretch overwhelmed Florida’s defense.
The momentum swung entirely in the Seminoles’ favor, allowing them to control the tempo and play their preferred style of basketball.
The Gators showed moments of resilience, trimming the lead to as little as 10 points. However, their inability to sustain offensive momentum or recover from turnovers proved too to be much to overcome.
Florida’s limited possessions, combined with Florida State’s defensive pressure, made it nearly impossible to close the gap in the quarter.
The Florida Gators women’s basketball team will return to the court on Nov. 28 at 1 p.m. in St. Petersburg for the St. Pete Showcase against Tulane University.
Contact Carston Handy at chandy@alligator.org. Follow Carston on X @carston_handy.
Carston Handy is a junior journalism major with a focus in sports and media. Fall 2024 marks his first semester reporting sports with the Alligator. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his fiancé and their dog. He also enjoys playing a bunch of sports, including pickleball, basketball and soccer.
