After sitting out Friday’s game due to personal reasons, Jennifer George returned Sunday and helped the Gators pick up their second win of the season.
George scored 19 points and grabbed 8 rebounds to lead Florida (2-0) to an 84-65 win against Georgia State (1-1) in the O’Connell Center.
“She gives us a sense of confidence,” coach Amanda Butler said. “I don’t think there is any other player on this team that can quite do that.
“It gives us another really dynamic weapon on both ends [of the floor].”
Getting George involved was the focus from the start. She touched the ball on three of Florida’s first four possessions and scored the game’s first points.
George finished 7-15 from the field in 26 minutes.
“It felt great to start my senior season and help my team out,” George said. “It felt good to be out there again.”
Jaterra Bonds, Florida’s other returning starter from last season, scored 15 points in the first half.
Foul trouble limited her against Fairfield, but the junior guard was able to consistently create open looks for herself on Sunday.
Bonds converted on a three-point play three times in the first half to help extend Florida’s lead.
“I just tried to be aggressive and get out in transition and attack,” Bonds said. “They weren’t stopping the ball, so we went down their throat.”
Despite the second double-digit victory in fewer than 48 hours, Butler was unhappy with her team’s inability to take care of the ball.
Florida turned the ball over 23 times and looked careless at times during the second half.
“We made some poor decisions,” Butler said. “We’ve got to be a little bit more in control … value the possession more.”
The win was No. 100 for Butler as coach of the Gators. She joins Carol Ross as the only two coaches in program history to win at least 100 games.
Butler said she is just looking toward the next opponent.
“I would really like to get [No.] 101,” she said.
Senior Jennifer George poses for photos during UF Media Day on Oct. 10. George racked up 15 points and nine rebounds in a losing effort against Michigan on Saturday.
