Gator fans stood and applauded for Liv McGill after she broke Florida’s 25-year-long single-season scoring record.
With 7:33 remaining in the third quarter, she made a driving layup to log her 632nd point of the 2025-26 season, surpassing Tonya Washington’s record of 631 from the 1999-2000 season.
Florida (17-13, 5-10 SEC) pulled off the upset against No. 19 Ole Miss (21-9, 8-7 SEC) in their final home game of the regular season, outscoring the Rebels 74-67 on Thursday in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen O’Connell Center.
In the fourth quarter, McGill snagged a steal and dribbled down the court to throw an alley-oop to junior guard Laila Reynolds, who caught the ball mid-air and laid it in. Ole Miss called a timeout just as the Gators were pulling away, 63-51.
But that timeout gathered the Rebels. Out of the break, the team went on a run, forcing Florida to make four turnovers in three minutes and sinking two threes in the process. Ole Miss came within five-points of the Gators.
Yet, Gator fans were relentless in their cheering, and despite their efforts, the Rebels couldn’t get a defensive stop. The Gators picked them apart from the inside, alternating between driving layups and quick looks into the post.
“We had a tremendous crowd,” head coach Kelly Rae Finley said. “It was hard to hear in there, and I thought they willed us… the crowd gave us energy.”
At the 4-and-a-half minute mark in the second quarter, the Gators got low and chopped their feet, keeping the Rebels from the basket long enough to earn a shot clock violation.
Florida kept that energy defensively and didn’t allow Ole Miss any field goals for the final five minutes of the first half. For the final minute, the Gators forced three turnovers from the Rebels.
Ole Miss’ shortcoming could be attributed to its 38.6 field goal percentage. The Rebels had a better chance of making a 3-pointer (40.9% 3FG) than a shorter shot inside the paint.
The nine 3-pointers Ole Miss did make came predominantly from sophomore guard Tianna Thompson, who broke her career record of most three-pointers in a game (3) by hitting seven triples throughout the night. She put up 25 points, one rebound and one assist.
For the Gators, McGill led the way, ending with 28 points, six rebounds, eight assists and two steals.
“Liv is a winner,” Finley said. “She's young, she’s learning, she’s determined, she’s got pro habits. Her best basketball is still ahead of her.”
Seconding her efforts was Reynolds, who finished with 14 points, four rebounds and two steals.
Florida drew from its bench early after turnovers and sloppy setups during the first few plays. In the Gators first possession, the ball nearly got sent out of bounds for a turnover due to an ill-timed pass despite no defensive pressure.
The first to sit was freshman center Caterina Piatti, who committed two turnovers within the first five minutes of the game.
She was replaced by junior center Gift Ezekiel, who made an immediate impact. A few plays after she subbed in, Ezekiel got the ball under the basket and patiently drew contact before laying the ball for a three-point play.
Another difference-maker was freshman forward Nyandieng “Nidi” Yiech. She hit the only three for the Gators in the first half in the opening play of the second quarter, and she had her hand in put-backs and rebounds that gave Florida crucial second chances. She contributed seven points, two rebounds and one steal.
“Nidi came in and played exceptionally good minutes as a freshman,” said Finley. “Big minutes in a big time game.”
Tonight also marked graduate guard Alexia Dizeko’s final home game with the Gators after three years with the team. Playing for the final time in the O’Dome, Dizeko posted two points, three rebounds and one assist.
“It’s emotional, because it’s home here,” she said. “I just love to work here with Coach Kelly and my teammates. I met wonderful people over here…I love them so much.”
In the end, Florida shot 59.1% from the field, 25% from the three (1-4) and 75% from the free-throw line in its final dance on its home stage of the 2025-26 season.
The Gators will close out the regular season on the road against No. 23 Georgia in Athens at the Stegeman Coliseum on Sunday at 3 p.m. before heading into SEC Tournament play.
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.
