If basketball games were only 15 minutes long, Florida would have recorded one of the biggest upsets of the season thus far. But basketball games are the full 40 minutes, and the Gators just couldn’t keep up.
Florida (13-9, 1-6 SEC) couldn’t execute the win against No. 6 LSU (19-2, 5-2 SEC) and lost their sixth conference game of the season 89-60 in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The slow starts that have previously plagued the Gators in SEC play were seemingly cured over Florida’s eight-day break between games. In the first half, the team kept up with LSU in scoring.
In the second quarter, Florida even led by one point while LSU was stuck in a three-minute scoring drought. But the tables turned, and Florida was now on the receiving end of a four-minute scoring drought that paved the way for LSU to go on an eight-point scoring run.
LSU’s sophomore guard Jada Richard led the charge with 20 points, three rebounds and two assists. She logged those points while three of her other teammates managed to put up double-digit scoring nights as well.
Emotions ran high, and it showed in the physicality of both teams. Jump balls were wrestling matches and rebounds were shoving contests. And it showed in the foul count as well.
Fouls limited both teams early, but Florida felt it more than LSU. Sophomore guard Me’Arah O’Neal caught three fouls in the first half while also putting up zero points, making the Gators call upon the bench prematurely. O’Neal finished with three points, three rebounds and four fouls.
LSU’s freshman forward Grace Knox and junior guard MiLaysia Fulwiley both earned a foul for each quarter, but the Tigers spread the ball efficiently enough so that any player on the floor could contribute to the offense.
In the battle of physicality, LSU won by a landslide, especially in rebounds. The team grabbed 48 rebounds, 20 of which were offensive. Florida snagged half the amount of offensive rebounds and finished with a total of 28.
Florida’s strong start was mostly due to the fault of the Tigers. LSU committed nine turnovers in the second quarter alone, giving Florida the chance at staying in the game early on.
That push was fueled by the Gators’ sophomore guard Liv McGill, who ended the night with 14 points, eight rebounds and two steals. This game marked her 23rd straight game with double-figure scoring.
She was trailed by junior guard Laila Reynolds, who finished with 12 points, three rebounds and two assists. Off the bench, junior forward Jade Weathersby connected from deep multiple times racking up 11 points.
Comparatively, Florida didn’t shoot well from the field. LSU shot 48% while Florida shot 37%. The Gators also shot fewer times than the Tigers, putting up just 57 while their opponents put up 64.
LSU also created separation at the free-throw line, hitting 22 of 29 compared to Florida’s 12 of 19, which is a 10-point difference that helped LSU stay in control in a game with few lead changes. Inside, Florida was outscored 36–22 in the paint and recorded no blocks, signaling struggles both finishing at the rim and protecting it defensively.
Florida’s bench came together for 27 points, with one large contributor being Nyadieng Yiech, who hit two big threes in the second quarter that helped Florida gain its brief lead.
Despite the bench’s best effort, the Gators just couldn’t outmatch the Tigers.
Florida continues on its difficult slate against No.4 Texas (19-2, 4-2 SEC) in the Exactech Arena in the Stephen O’Connell Center on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Contact Isis Snow at isnow@alligator.org. Follow her on X @isis_snoww.
Isis is a senior sports journalism student who is in her fourth semester at The Alligator. She previously has written for the Avenue desk and has covered the Florida volleyball beat. She also has experience in live broadcast reporting with WUFT. Despite hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, she is a life-long Michigan and Detroit Lions fan. To make up for the emotional toll of being a fan of those teams, you will often find her in the gym weight lifting and playing basketball.
