University of Florida freshman Sha Brooks (Jackson, Tenn.) scored a game-high 22 points, but it wasn't enough as the Gators lost to Kentucky 88-70 in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament Friday evening at ALLTEL Arena.
Fifth-seeded Florida (21-8) shot just 32 percent (24-75) from the floor during the game, including a 2-of-18 effort from the three-point arc, while fourth-seeded Kentucky (21-7) pounded the ball inside to score 40 points in the paint and hit 56.7 percent (34-60) during the game, including a 60 percent clip in the second half.
“Obviously, we're very disappointed because we thought we really had a chance to go further here,” UF head coach Carolyn Peck said. “Kentucky did a good job coming at us and took advantage of a little fatigue on our part. I am proud of what our team has accomplished, but we certainly are not satisfied.”
Brooks' 22 points marked the fourth time in the last five games the rookie has scored at least 22 points. UF's Sarah Lowe (Wynnewood, Pa.) scored 10 points with three assists and three steals, while Danielle Santos (Marietta, Ga.) added 11 points and seven rebounds. Brittany Davis (Gainesville) collected a game-high 12 rebounds along with seven points, hitting just 1-of-13 shots and Dalila Eshe (Tallahassee) tallied nine points on 3-of-10 shooting.
In spite of the loss, the Gators have placed themselves in a solid position for an at-large berth into the NCAA Championship tournament, with first round games beginning March 18th and 19th at eight pre-determined sites. The announcement of the 64-team field will be MONDAY, March 13 at 7 p.m. and broadcast by ESPN.
Should the Gators receive an NCAA bid, it would mark the 13th time in the last 14 years the team has earned a postseason trip, competing in two WNIT events during that run. Florida has 10 NCAA appearances, most recently in 2004 when the Gators advanced to the second round before falling to Baylor.
Kentucky continued its torrid shooting to begin the second half, roaring out with an 8-2 lead to extend its lead to 16 points, 52-36, with 17:14 remaining. Florida slowly chipped away at the deficit and got within 10 points, 61-51, after Sha Brooks connected on the Gators first three-pointer of the game with 12:20 on the clock.
After one Kentucky free throw, Brooks nailed another trey and brought UF within eight, 63-55 with 10:50 left in the game. Carly Ormerod responded for the Wildcats with a driving bucket that sparked a mini 5-0 run as Kentucky's lead grew to 13 points, 68-55. The Gators again whittled down the deficit, scoring the game's next five points from the free throw line and reduced UK's lead to single digits, 68-60, with 8:10 remaining. Jennifer Humphrey hit one from the charity stripe before Natassia Alcius hit a trey from the top of the key and UK again jumped out to a 12-point lead, 72-60, with 6:21 left in the game.
The teams traded buckets for the next three-plus minutes, as the taller Wildcats pounded the paint in answering every UF shot. The Gators eventually were forced to foul and UK hit 10-of-14 from the free throw line down the stretch to extend the final margin.
Sarah Elliott and Samantha Mahoney each scored 20 points for Kentucky, while Natassia added 13 points, six from the free throw line, and Jennifer Humphrey collected 10 rebounds for the Wildcats, which held a 42-39 rebounding edge and shot 8-of-15 from the three-point arc.
The first six minutes of the game were played evenly, with the Gators holding a slight 17-14 lead with 12:10 remaining. That's when Kentucky's Jenny Pfeiffer started heating up her three-point shot, canning two to ignite a quick 8-0 run, as the Wildcats took a 22-17 lead with just under 10 minutes to go. Scoring from Sarah Lowe, Brittany Davis and Depree Bowden shrank the deficit to two, 24-22 with 7:05 left in the period before the Wildcats continued their hot perimeter shooting by using a 9-0 spree to take a 33-22 advantage with five minutes remaining.
Marshae Dotson came off the bench and scored the next four points of the game, dropping the lead to seven, before Samantha Mahoney nailed UK's sixth trey of the half to quell a bigger Gator run. After Lowe hit two technical foul free throws called against Jennifer Humphrey, Mahoney hit two more buckets, the second an offensive put-back that extended the Wildcat lead to 12, 40-28, with 2:10 remaining. The teams traded buckets for the rest of the half, as the Gators headed into the locker room trailing 44-34.
Kentucky shot a steady 54.3 percent (19-35) in the first half, including a 6-of-12 effort from the three-point arc. Florida hit just 33.3 percent (13-29) and did not connect on six long range attempts.
Kentucky advances to the semifinal to play top-seeded and third-ranked LSU (26-2) on Saturday beginning at 7:30 pm. ET (6:30 p.m. CT).
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