Florida finally got the quality road win it has been searching for.
A day removed from Florida’s 67-58 victory at Vanderbilt, coach Amanda Butler was optimistic heading into the team’s second mid-week break of Southeastern Conference play.
With a full week break before the Gators women’s basketball team takes on No. 6 Tennessee in the O’Connell Center on Sunday, Butler is hoping the team uses the rest to its advantage.
After an embarrassing yet expected loss to No. 1 South Carolina on Jan. 19, the Gators got some well-deserved rest, earning several days off after Butler told the team to stay away from the gym and relax their minds and bodies.
The hiatus from the basketball court paid off, as Florida returned to the floor with a 72-58 drumming of Arkansas that featured a rejuvenated roster from top to bottom.
Butler is hoping that the break gives the Gators the needed kick to push through the final slate of games — a schedule that has Florida playing five of its final seven games against ranked opponents.
"We’ve gotta make the rest important," Butler said. "I’ve said all year long that practice has been great, just fantastic effort in practice. We had our first bye week going into Arkansas where we had great preparation, we played one of our better ball games. That’s what we have to do this week."
Defeating Vanderbilt might not have been possible without the surging play of redshirt senior Kayla Lewis.
After a slow start to the season, Lewis’ production has increased as of late.
The forward scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, four on the offensive end, against the Commodores.
Lewis now leads the Gators in rebounding (7.2 per game) and is tied with the team-lead in scoring with sophomore Ronni Williams (9.8 points per game).
"Kayla Lewis was just absolutely a warrior in every aspect," Butler said. "A great leader for us and I think the rest of the team did a great job of following her lead."
With the team struggling thus far in the deep SEC, Butler said Lewis realized how critical her play is to the team. She’s increased her intensity, doing whatever she can to push the team forward.
"I think Kayla has sometimes been Kayla’s biggest limiting factor throughout her career," Butler said. "I think now she’s really sensing the urgency of being a senior, sensing the urgency of where our team is and how much we need her to be at her best. I think she’s really adopting a warrior’s mentality in how she can help our team win."
For the Gators’ offense to be successful, the guards must attack the paint while also looking to feed the ball to the post in case their lane to the basket is cut off.
Butler said dominating in the paint is the key to Florida’s success.
"Our guards are doing a great job of understanding that paint battle," Butler said. "Getting the ball in Kayla’s hands, getting the ball in Haley’s hands. I think our team has a really good awareness of what we have to do, and like I said the paint has to be won."
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Kayla Lewis dribbles during Florida's 68-52 loss to Missouri on Tursday in the O'Connell Center.
