Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
We inform. You decide.
Friday, March 29, 2024

It's hard to relax for even just a couple minutes in the Southeastern Conference.

After dominating for 33 minutes and building a 23-points lead, UF looked like it could have just mailed it in with 6:38 remaining.

The Gators appeared to do just that on Sunday, and 2 1/2 minutes later, Mississippi (13-7, 2-3 SEC) had the lead down to 10 with 4:08 left.

Freshman guard Trumae Lucas did her part to seal the win, nailing a three from the corner just moments later, propelling No. 15 UF (18-2, 4-1 SEC) to a 75-54 victory against the Rebels in front of 4,623 fans, the eighth-largest crowd in school history.

"I just knew that we had to keep playing aggressive and that they were going to trap on the wings," Lucas said. "(Sha) Brooks found me and I knocked it down."

With Brooks having an off day shooting, Lucas picked up the slack on both ends of the flooring, tallying 13 points and four steals.

"I always have to be ready," Lucas said. "You can never count on one person to carry the team, so I'm always ready to step up or do whatever the team needs me to."

The key to UF's success all season has been jumping out on teams early.

Sunday was no different, as the Gators opened a 12-point lead eight minutes into the game, thanks mostly to Marshae Dotson's effort.

The senior forward scored UF's first 9 points.

"We know as a group that we are our best when we are up on our toes and when we're setting the tone and when we're coming out … swinging first and hopefully landing that first punch," UF coach Amanda Butler said.

Butler was most proud of her team's ability to be balanced and consistent.

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox

All 10 players who saw action scored, and four were in double figures.

"It's really hard to key on one thing to beat us," Butler said.

The Gators outrebounded the Rebels by 10, something Butler said was the biggest contributing factor in the win.

UF has locked down defensively in the last three games as well, holding its three opponents to 54, 45 and 63 points, respectively.

Mississippi coach Renee Ladner said her team took a beating from UF's physical style of play, a testament to the Gators' toughness defensively.

"It goes back to us really having confidence in our bench," Butler said. "It allows us to play as aggressively as we want."

Ladner also gave her assessment of where the Gators stand right now.

"They're playing with a lot of confidence and a lot of swagger," said Ladner, a former UF assistant. "The crowd was a big factor. I give a lot of credit to Florida, though. They popped us in the mouth."

"Florida is one of the top teams in our conference," Ladner added. "I definitely would agree with that."

Support your local paper
Donate Today
The Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today.

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2024 The Independent Florida Alligator and Campus Communications, Inc.