Women's Basketball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Junior point guard Jaterra Bonds (10) shoots during Florida’s 62-57 loss to Georgia on Feb. 17 in the O’Connell Center. Bonds scored 17 points in Florida's 64-59 victory against Arkansas in the SEC Tournament on Thursday.

Sports

Increased maturity helping junior point guard during trying season

Feb. 19, 2013

Jaterra Bonds was known for her erratic on-court behavior for the Gators last season.

Christin Mercer (25) drives the lane in UF’s 87-54 win against Alabama on Feb. 3. Coach Amanda Butler has identified Mercer as an important post player for the Gators.

Sports

Freshman Mercer achieving consistency in frontcourt

Feb. 11, 2013

Florida’s coaching staff urged Christin Mercer to not become complacent following her best performance of the season against Alabama.

Forward Jennifer George (32) attempts a pass during Florida’s 87-54 victory against Alabama on Feb. 3. The Gators improved to 4-6 in Southeastern Conference play on Sunday.

Sports

Florida wins second straight conference game

Feb. 10, 2013

Hoping to improve its NCAA Tournament chances, the Gators grinded out an important comeback victory on Sunday.

Florida center Vicky McIntyre (34) attempts a shot over a South Carolina defender in the O'Connell Center during Florida's 52-44 loss to South Carolina. After one season with the Gators, McIntyre will not return to UF next season.

Sports

McIntyre turning in consistent play

Feb. 6, 2013

Two games are hardly enough to be considered a representative sample, but for Vicky McIntyre and the Gators, they were small steps in the right direction.

Junior forward Lily Svete (31) guards sophomore guard Kayla Nolan (20) during Florida’s 84-65 victory against Georgia State on Nov. 11 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Forward Svete shining in limited time

Feb. 4, 2013

Lily Svete is everything and nothing you would want in a forward.

Freshman Christian Mercer (25) attempts a shot during Florida’s 87-54 victory against Alabama on Sunday in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Florida snaps five-game skid with win against Alabama

Feb. 3, 2013

Poor shooting and slow starts have plagued Florida during Southeastern Conference play. Freshman Christin Mercer helped change that, ending the Gators’ five-game losing streak in the process.

Coach Amanda Butler draws up a play during a timeout in Florida’s 88-81 loss to Ole Miss on Jan. 24 in the O’Connell Center. UF’s loss to Missouri on Thursday was its fifth straight defeat.

Sports

Florida drops fifth consecutive game in loss to Missouri

Jan. 31, 2013

Finding consistent offense has been problematic for the Gators during Southeastern Conference play.

Guard Carlie Needles (left) passes the ball to forward Jennifer George (middle) during Florida’s 88-81 loss to Ole Miss on Jan. 24 at home.

Sports

Needles, Gators slumping in conference play

Jan. 28, 2013

Redshirt freshman Carlie Needles was lights out against North Florida on Nov. 19, breaking Florida’s program record with nine three-pointers in a 74-44 victory.

Sports

Gators struggling on boards

Jan. 21, 2013

Florida shot a season-low 29.8 percent from the floor on Sunday, but the cold shooting was not what fired up coach Amanda Butler.

Point guard Jaterra Bonds (10) runs the floor during Florida's 77-72 win against LSU on Jan. 6 in the O'Connell Center.

Sports

Minus George, Gators drop another close SEC game

Jan. 20, 2013

Without senior Jennifer George (shoulder), coach Amanda Butler was forced to juggle her starting lineup on Sunday.

January Miller (right) attempts a shot during Florida’s 78-75 overtime loss to Tennessee on Sunday at home.

Sports

Freshman guard Miller improving quickly for UF

Jan. 17, 2013

January Miller emerged as a legitimate scoring option for the Gators two weeks ago.

Freshman forward Christin Mercer attempts a shot during Florida’s 78-75 overtime loss to Tennessee on Sunday in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Mercer looking to overcome late struggles in loss to Tennessee

Jan. 15, 2013

The lasting image from Florida’s near upset of No. 9 Tennessee was the anguished look on the face of freshman Christin Mercer.

Coach Amanda Butler reacts to a play during Florida’s 78-75 overtime loss to No. 9 Tennessee on Sunday in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Florida’s upset bid falls short in overtime

Jan. 13, 2013

Coach Amanda Butler had her team on the brink of upsetting No. 9 Tennessee on Sunday afternoon, a victory that would have represented arguably Florida’s biggest win during her tenure.

Coach Amanda Butler watches from the bench during UF’s 87-62 win against Troy on Dec. 4 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Bonds leads Gators to road victory

Jan. 10, 2013

After a slow start to begin the season, junior Jaterra Bonds rose to the occasion in the Gators’ first two games to open Southeastern Conference play.

Senior forward Jennifer George dribbles in the lane during Florida's 77-72 win against LSU in the O'Connell Center.

Sports

George questionable to play against Mississippi State

Jan. 9, 2013

Florida netted its first Southeastern Conference win of the season with a 77-72 victory against LSU on Sunday, but the Gators suffered a troubling loss during the game.

Junior guard Jaterra Bonds drives past a Fairfield defender in a 71-49 victory at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Nov. 9. Bonds scored a season-high 21 points in a seven-point loss to No. 6 Kentucky on Thursday night at the Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky. The Wildcats defeated the Gators in all three matchups last season by an average margin of four points.

Sports

Struggles continue for Gators against Wildcats in another close contest

Jan. 3, 2013

Gators junior Jaterra Bonds was deadly from the floor Thursday night, scoring a season- and game-best 21 points, including making each of her 11 attempts from the free throw line.

Sports

Florida defeats Holy Cross in non-conference finale

Dec. 28, 2012

With dreams of Kentucky and Southeastern Conference play dancing in her head, senior Jennifer George and the Gators were first tasked with completing their non-conference slate on Friday night.

Sports

George posts double-double as Gators dominate La Salle in defensive effort

Dec. 16, 2012

Coach Amanda Butler said her team needed to respond to the adversity of playing on the road.

Sports

Freshman Sydney Moss coping with father figure’s death

Dec. 3, 2012

When the Gators departed Gainesville en route to Michigan on Friday, freshman Sydney Moss was not with the team.

Guard Chandler Cooper (5) dribbles past Georgia State guard Ashley Watson during the Gators’ 84-65 win on Nov. 11 in the O’Connell Center. After seeing time in only three games for the Gators in 2012-13 because of a left foot injury, Cooper has decided to transfer to Lipscomb University.

Sports

Injury to freshman guard Chandler Cooper a major blow to depleted Gators

Nov. 27, 2012

Coach Amanda Butler thinks freshman Chandler Cooper can be an effective player, but an injured left arch has thrown a wrench into the plan.