Despite 23 points from senior All-American Vanessa Hayden and 21 points from sophomore Bernice Mosby, the University of Florida women's basketball team couldn't overcome a hot-shooting Richmond squad, as the Gators lost 98-88 at the Robins Center.
UF nearly overcame a 14-point deficit, but couldn't fend off the sizzling Spider shooting. Both teams made 36 field goals during the game, with UF (2-1) 11 from the 3-point line compared to five from Spiders (2-0), who also converted 21-of-28 from the free throw line versus the 5-of-9 effort by the Gators. However the primary difference came with the shooting accuracy, as Richmond shot 64.3 percent (36-56), including a 71 percent effort during the first half. UF actually attempted 26 more shots, but only connected on 43.9 percent (36-82).
"Richmond was a team that was very focused throughout the game," UF head coach Carolyn Peck said. "The had the momentum going early and that put the wind in their sails. They were making good cuts to the baskets that resulted in layups, which was the majority of their shots in the first half. Then their outside shooters started getting hot. Our defensive intensity wasn't there and that's a situation we haven't been in this season. The road trip started to show its wear on us and we weren't as focused. We just didn't have the same defensive sharpness that we had in our first two games."
Mosby also collected a team-high 10 rebounds to post her second double-double of the season. Danielle Santos netted 14 points in the loss, while Tishona Gregory tallied 10 points. Sarah Lowe dished eight of UF's 27 assists, while committing just two of the Gator's eight turnovers.
Hayden, who played just 10 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, stormed out the lockerroom and scoring the first five points of the second half trying to help the Gators recover from a 53-39 halftime deficit. In fact the entire UF squad played with renewed vigor and contributed toward a 25-8 run that had the Gators sporting a 64-61 lead, their largest since beginning the game with a 3-pointer.
UF missed chances on their next two possessions to extend their lead, unable to converted fast break layups. At the point, the Spiders regrouped and posted a quick 8-0 run to take a 69-64 lead with 9:23 left in the game. But Tishona Gregory and Sarah Lowe hit back-to-back 3-pointers as UF regained the lead, 70-69, with 8:29 remaining. However, Richmond produced a devastating 18-4 run to take an 87-74 lead with 2:37 lead in the contest. UF chipped away at the lead and brought it to six points, 92-86 with 45 seconds on the clock, but couldn't rally for the second time in the game as Richmond scored its final nine points from the free throw line to secure the win.
"We did dig ourselves a big hole in the first half and spent a lot of energy trying to recover from it," Peck said. "Once we did (take the lead), I think fatigue set in. Defensively, we didn't look very sharp. The bright spots that we take away from this three-game road trip were the play of Vanessa Hayden, who absolutely played like an All-American, and the intensity of Danielle Santos. She has really improved her game and looked solid in all three we've played."
Both teams opened on a blistering offensive pace, with Richmond hitting 10 of its first 11 shots and UF sinking nine of its first 16 attempts, as the Gators held a 22-20 lead after seven minutes of action. The next few minutes continued along that same frantic pace, with Vanessa Hayden serving as a focal point of UF's offense. The Gators played the first 9:42 without committing a foul, but then the whistle started blowing and by the 3:27 mark, UF had picked up its 10th personal foul. During that period, Hayden collected two and was forced to the bench with UF trailing 30-28, and the Gator offense began to sputter.
However, Richmond never lost a step and continued to hit the open layup and outside shots. After Bernice Mosby canned a 3-pointer from the top of the arc to give the Gators a 34-32 lead with 5:42 remaining in the first half, the Spiders went on a 21-5 spree to take a commanding 53-39 halftime advantage.
Richmond shot a blazing 71.0 percent (22-31) from the floor in the opening stanza and held a commanding 21-12 rebounding edge, as the Gators easily turned in their poorest defensive half of the young season. UF shot 43.2 percent (16-37) in the first half, with Mosby scoring 12 on 5-of-7 shooting.
UF has a full week break before its next game. The Gators continue their seven-game season-opening road trip traveling to Tampa for a December 2 meeting at USF. The contest is the first of five games UF plays against teams from the Sunshine State. The Gators have won 43 consecutive games versus their instate rivals. In addition, UF sports a 12-game win streak against the Bulls.
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