Heading into their third SEC match, which was against their highest-ranked opponent thus far this season, the Gators were looking to secure their first ranked win since 2022. However, No.16 Kentucky showed a relentless pursuit to defeat Florida for the fifth consecutive time at the O’Dome.
The Florida Gators (10-7, 1-2 SEC) lost 71-55 to Kentucky (14-1, 3-0 SEC) on Thursday night.
It was a disappointing evening for Florida, especially coming off its first SEC win against Georgia last Sunday.
The Gators did not play to their standard on multiple aspects of the court. They fell short of their 48% shooting average and only converted seven points on 20 turnovers, while the Wildcats converted 25 points off 13 turnovers. Overall, Florida shot 39% compared to Kentucky’s 48%.
Although Florida shot 80% on free throws compared to Kentucky’s 42%, UF did not reach its average of 40 points in the paint, which caused it to remain behind Kentucky.
While the Gators’ top performers struggled, UK’s graduate guard Georgia Amoore shined on the court, reaching double-digits by the second quarter. The 5-foot-6-inch SEC top 15 scorer racked 14 points by the half and led her team with 18 total points.
UK redshirt senior guard Dazia Lawrence was second in points (14), hitting four three-pointers, while the Gators only scored three total. UK center sophomore Clara Strack was the third Wildcat to reach double-digits with 12 points. The third-ranked rebounder in the SEC also achieved a team-high of eight rebounds.
Meanwhile, senior center Ra Shaya Kyle, who averages 16 points per game, found herself blocked by Kentucky’s defense. Kyle also faced foul trouble early in the second quarter that forced her to sit out, causing her to have zero points and zero rebounds at the half.
While she did record four points and six rebounds, Kyle’s performance fell short of her typical team-leading scoring and nine double-doubles for which she is ranked third in the SEC.
However, sophomore guard Laila Reynolds single-handedly carried the Gators with a team-high 15 points and seven rebounds. At halftime, Reynolds was the only player who had scored more than three points. She shot 5-for-7 in free throws to attempt to keep the Gators afloat.
Therefore, Florida entered halftime down 41-19.
The rest of the team soon followed Reynolds' energy with a renewed sense of purpose in the second half. The Gators scored 18 points in the third and fourth quarters alone after being held to just 19 in the first half.
Senior Jeriah Warren found her spark in the second half, reaching 13 points after only making three in the first half. The 6’0 guard was also 3-for-3 on free throws.
Similarly, freshman guard Liv McGill also reached double-digits (10) in the second half, coming back from only three points in the first and continuing her double-figure scoring in 15 of 17 outings.
Freshman wing Me’Arah O’Neal buried a three-pointer in the fourth quarter that sent the crowd roaring inside the O’Dome as Kentucky’s lead was cut to 14 points, signaling the Gators’ fight to the end. O'Neal went on to finish the day with a team-high nine rebounds for UF.
Florida improved its shooting in the second half to 50%, compared to Kentucky’s 46%. Despite a commendable effort, the Gators were unable to overcome the Wildcats’ stern lead and fell short 71-55.
The Gators continue their SEC slate on the road against the University of Missouri Tigers (11-6, 0-2 SEC) on Sunday at 3 p.m.
Contact Amanda Roman at aroman@alligator.org. Follow her on X @mandy_romannn
Amanda Roman is a sophomore sports journalism major and The Alligator's Fall 2024 Soccer Reporter. She interned for Fort Lauderdale United FC this past summer as the team's journalist. In her free time, she enjoys lifting, shopping and reading.
