Slowly but surely, the Gators’ competition stiffens as the season progresses.
Florida faces its first major-conference opponent in Virginia Tech tonight at 7 in Blacksburg, Va.
The Gators have won back-to-back games to begin this season thanks to strong offensive showings, averaging 90.5 points per game. Florida averaged 77.5 points in its first two contests of the 2012-13 campaign.
“Anybody on our team is subject to hit two or three (3-pointers) in a row,” coach Amanda Butler said. “Especially when we have kids that are elite shooters like Carlie (Needles), like Lily (Svete). [Antoinette Bannister] is in that category.”
The Gators showed off their offensive versatility in a 93-65 win against Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 8. Seven different players scored in double figures.
Senior Jaterra Bonds, who netted 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting, contributed a game-high eight assists.
“That game, everybody was hot,” Bonds said. “I was trying to get the ball out of my hands and get it to the hot shooters.”
Two nights later, Bonds was the one scoring baskets. She tallied a career-high 25 points along with nine assists in an 88-77 victory against North Florida.
“Everybody’s going to have that night where they’re scoring,” Bonds said. “My teammates found me in the right spot and I just attacked it.”
Seemingly every Gator has had one of those nights through two games. No player is averaging fewer than 8.5 points per game through two contests.
“That’s one of the things that we think gives us a chance to be a special team,” Butler said of her team’s versatile roster of scorers. “A great shooter like Carlie goes only 1 for 5, but her teammate Lily goes 4 for 6.
“I think we have that ability across the board. Whoever is on, we’re going to look for them and get them the ball. Whoever is not is not going to hang their head and pout about that. They’re just going to get more assists by hitting the one who’s on.”
Florida has scored frequently in two games, but so have its opponents.
The Gators have surrendered 71 points per game in back-to-back contests against Bethune-Cookman and North Florida, which ranked 302nd and 325th nationally with 54 and 51.8 points per game last season, respectively.
Florida gave up only 57 points per game through its first two contests in 2012-13.
In the early going, the Gators are missing Jennifer George, who graduated. Last season, George became the first Florida player ever named to the All-Southeastern Conference Defensive Team.
“(George) was a great defender on the inside,” junior Kayla Lewis said.
Follow Gordon Streisand on Twitter @GordonStreisand.
Jaterra Bonds attempts a shot during Florida's 88-77 victory against North Florida on Nov. 10 in the O'Connell Center.
