Speaking of stats, the gators had 8 fewer FG attempts and five less FT attempts and won by 25. That’s just crazy. But it helps when UK shoots 27 percent for the game.
Game Recap: Women's Basketball | Thursday, January 20, 2022 | Andrew Hile Gators Crush No. 23 Wildcats to Earn Fourth-Consecutive Win LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the first time since the 2010-11 season, Florida women's basketball has won four-straight Southeastern Conference games following a 77-52 victory over No. 23 Kentucky on Thursday evening. A key component to Thursday's victory came from the defensive effort of Nina Rickards, along with Kiara Smith and Zippy Broughton, on Kentucky's (8-6, 1-3 SEC) Rhyne Howard. The Preseason SEC Player of the Year was held to just 17 points on 7-of-21 shooting and just 2-of-6 from deep. Florida (14-5, 4-2 SEC) was led by Smith offensively behind an impressive 25-point, eight rebound and six assist performance while Alberte Rimdal chipped-in 15 points with five triples and Zippy Broughton and Jordyn Merritt each added 13 and 10 points, respectively. As a team, UF ended 30-of-58 (51.7%) from the floor and 7-of-15 (46.7%) from deep. Defensively, the Orange & Blue held Kentucky to 18-of-66 shooting (27.3%) and 4-of-18 (22.2%) from deep. The Gators were also dominant on the glass, ending with a 48-31 advantage. Smith and Rickards led the UF effort with eight while Broughton also pulled-down seven rebounds. Another key for the Gators, Florida outscored the Wildcats 40-16 in the paint and 25-2 in bench scoring. Offense was difficult to come by in the early going of the game, despite a high-tempo start. Florida used smothering defense to force two early turnovers to race out to a 6-2 advantage with just over six minutes on the clock. The Gators would keep the pedal down, extending their lead to 10-4 at the first media timeout following a Rimdal pass over-the-top to Merritt for an easy layup. After opening-up a 12-4 advantage, the Wildcats managed to respond and close the gap to four, but Rimdal, continuing to remain hot from behind the arc, knocked down her first triple of the contest to push the advantage back to seven. Both squads would exchange punches, including another Rimdal three, at the end of the quarter, resulting in a 20-16 UF lead after one. The Gators opened the second frame with the first six points, partially thanks to a Merritt rejection of Kentucky's Howard on the defensive end. With the Florida lead sitting at 26-16, the Wildcats would climb back to within seven, but Rimdal immediately responded with back-to-back triples, extending their lead to 32-19. Florida's dominant performance continued, extending their lead to 18 at it's peak, eventually taking a 44-26 lead into halftime. The Gators shot an impressive 16-of-32 from the floor during the first half, getting a spark from Rimdal's four triples. The Orange & Blue held UK to just 11-of-31 shooting in the first half, including 4-of-18 in the second quarter. Continuing with the trend of the game, Rickards forced a turnover on the first possession of the second half, leading to a Smith triple on the left wing and giving Florida a 47-26 lead. Remaining relentless on both ends of the floor, UF maxed-out their lead at 29 following back-to-back triples from Rimdal and Broughton, 57-28, before entering the final quarter with a 59-37 lead following a 9-0 run by UK to end the quarter. The two squads exchanged baskets to start the fourth, but Wyche, with a statement block, fed Smith for a layup to give UF a 65-39 lead, helping to put the final nail in the coffin before earning a 77-52. victory. Florida will be back in action on Sunday, Jan. 23 when No. 11 LSU visits Exactech Arena for a 2 p.m. ET matchup. Postgame Bites - Florida snapped a two-game losing skid to the Wildcats, pulling to within 34-27 in the all-time series. - The win on Thursday marked the second-consecutive road win in the series for UF. - Thursday marked six-straight meetings where the Wildcats entered in the top 25. - UF has now won four-straight SEC games for the first time since the 2010-11 season when they defeated Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Georgia and Arkansas consecutively. Georgia was ranked 22nd. - The 25-point win was the worst home defeat for Kentucky since UK lost to Tennessee, 65-40, on Jan. 27, 2008. - It was the largest victory over Kentucky since an 85-48 win on Jan. 7, 2001 in Lexington. - Thursday was also the largest win for UF since Dec. 21, 2020 when they defeated North Florida, 89-64. - It was also the largest SEC win for the Gators since Feb. 25, 2016 when they beat LSU, 82-56. - Alberte Rimdal matched a career-high with five-triples for the second-straight game. - Rimdal became the first freshman to hit five threes in back-to-back games in program history. more at Gators Crush No. 23 Wildcats to Earn Fourth-Consecutive Win - Florida Gators
Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 1/20/2022 9:06:00 PM | Tim Letcher No. 23 Kentucky Falls to Florida LEXINGTON, Ky. – All-American Rhyne Howard scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds but the 23rd-ranked Kentucky women's basketball team lost to Florida 77-52 on Thursday night at Memorial Coliseum. Kentucky (8-6, 1-3 SEC) got 12 points from freshman Jada Walker and 10 from Jazmine Massengill. Florida (14-5, 4-2) hit 30 of 58 (51.7 percent) from the floor, including seven of 15 (46.7 percent) from three-point range. Kentucky hit just 18 of 66 (27.3 percent) from the field, including four of 18 (22.2 percent) from beyond the arc. The Gators held advantages in rebounding (48-31), second-chance points (12-8) and points in the paint (40-16). Kentucky played without Dre'una Edwards, who leads the team in rebounding and is second on the squad in scoring. Edwards was not available for the game due to a disciplinary matter. Florida scored first on a Zipporah Broughton basket but Kentucky answered 11 seconds later on an Olivia Owens shot in the lane. Florida would score the next four before UK got a Massengill jumper to cut the lead to 6-4. The Gators would score the next six points to take a 12-4 lead with 4:15 left in the first period. Kentucky would answer with an 8-3 run to get within three, 15-12. But Florida got a three from Alberte Rimdal to lead 18-12. The Gators would lead 20-14 before Kentucky scored the final bucket of the period, a Treasure Hunt layup, to cut the lead to 20-16, which would be the score at the end of the period. Florida scored the first six points of the second period to lead 26-16. Kentucky would get a Howard free throw and a Hunt layup to make it 26-19 but Florida answered with back-to-back threes from Rimdal to lead 32-19 with 6:19 left in the half. The Gators would extend the lead to 36-19 before Kentucky got a runner from Howard to end the 10-0 run with 3:39 left in the half. The Cats would get within 38-26 before the Gators scored the final six points of the period to lead 44-26 at the break. Florida continued to extend the lead in the third period. The Gators scored the first five points of the quarter, the start of a 13-2 run, that extended the lead to 57-28. Florida would lead 59-30 before Kentucky got seven straight points, four from Massengill and three from Howard, to cut the deficit to 59-37 after three quarters. In the fourth period, Kentucky was able to run off nine points in a row, cutting the lead to 65-48, but the Cats would get no closer. more at: No. 23 Kentucky Falls to Florida - University of Kentucky Athletics
Pure shooter is an over used phrase and often not appicable but in any game Alberte get off to a good start from the arc she is truly a pure shooter
Lav leaving appears to truly be addition by subtraction The impressive thing I see is that the team is playing like a team and improving game to game and the coaching is more evident than ever, clearly the most talented roster I can remember
I caught a few of the early season games and thought, meh, we're only marginally better than last season. I watch them now and the difference is remarkable. So much better than even a month ago.
I had to shout several times at the ball movement and unselfishness, especially in the 2nd and 3rd quarter.
Couldn't tell you but looks like chemistry is the main thing. Was more impressed with ball movement than I have been in a while. The emergence of Rimdal has been a big boost as well. Last night we looked more like what I had hoped we would when we brought on Plank as an assistant. We got after it and were up and down the floor constantly. I think she was an excellent hire by Kelly/Scott or whoever brought her on board. Cam left a lot of talent for this crew, but we were underwhelming at first. I am sure there have been some interesting locker room dynamics given the coaching change and all that happened, but whatever flipped the switch I am glad to see. Granted it's early and mostly the wins are teams struggling, but 4 in a row in the SEC is a great thing no matter which teams we played. It's the way we played tonight that impressed me more than the win itself.
I don't want to lay this at Briggs' feet. We were getting better even before she left, looking a little better each time out. But as we said before, she was clearly a step slower than before her injury and not nearly as effective on either offense or defense. That's not her fault, and she was still a solid player, doing her best. But the squad definitely looks a little quicker since she left. Also want to point out the improvement in both Toonders and Dut. Dut is starting to scare her opponents when they get inside the lane.
I want to stand up and cheer for Faith! Just having followed the comments over the years on this board from “she is just not an SEC level player” to “She is starting to scare her opponents” This is all on her and how hard she has worked to make herself better. Love you Faith Dut!!!
Simple. She is still injured and wasn't playing anywhere near the level she was previously...but since she was our "star" player she still monopolized a large portion of our teams total shots and minutes--hardly came off the floor despite playing imo not great defense and struggling offensively. Those shots are now going to players who are hitting their shots and there's no holes on defense. Kiki, Nina, and Zippy are all excellent defenders, as well, to their credit..and kiki and zippy play with great chemistry. Alberte has also been so much fun to watch, can't wait to see her game grow.
If it makes you feel any better try following this women's program for 20+ years. Been a lot of frustration. Hopefully that is ending soon!
