Tierney Jenkins scored 28 points with 12 rebounds and led Alabama to an 82-58 victory over Florida at Coleman Coliseum in front of 1,367.
Each of Florida's first five Southeastern Conference games were decided by fewer than 10 points, but Thursday evening's affair wasn't close after the Crimson Tide closed the first half on a 10-2 run en route to snapping its five-game losing streak and earning its first conference victory.
Alabama (9-10, 1-5 SEC) opened the second half with a 12-3 that extended its 38-26 halftime lead to 21 points and the Gators (10-9, 3-3 SEC)would never recover.
“We just weren't ready to play today, I don't know how else to dissect it,” UF head coach Amanda Butler said. “I'm sure the film will show us specific things, but it was a lot more important for Alabama to get the win today and it showed all over the court. Tierney Jenkins kicked out butts from one end of the court to the other. You have to commend Alabama because had just lost a player for the season and it was important for them to step up and get every rebound. They outplayed us in every category.”
Sharielle Smith and Azania Stewart both scored nine points to lead Florida, which shot just 31.4 percent from the floor (22-70), including a 22.2 percent three-point mark (4-18). Smith also collected a team-high nine rebounds, helping the Gators to a 43-37 edge on the glass.
Ndidi Madu and Jennifer George scored eight points apiece for Florida, which had 10 different players score during the game.
Jordan Jones, UF's leading scorer, was held without a point until there was 2:55 remaining in the game until she knocked down a three-pointer from the left side of the arc, which moved her into a tie for fourth in UF history with 19 consecutive games converting a trey.
Alabama hit a blistering 58.2 percent of its shot, the highest mark by a Gator opponent this season. The Tide also nailed 65.4 percent during the second-half, when UF hit just 30 percent. Celiscia Farmer contributed 19 points off the bench for Alabama, while Ericka Russell tallied 18 points and seven assists.
The Gators return to the court on Sunday, Jan. 24, when they play host to South Carolina in the O'Connell Center beginning at 1 p.m. Sun Sports will air the game live statewide, while WBXY-FM (The Star 99.5) provides live radio coverage, which also airs on the internet at www.GatorZone.com, the official website of the Florida Gators.
Members of The American Red Cross International Response Fund, which is the overarching fund for the Haitian Relief Effort, will be in attendance at the game to answer questions about the relief efforts in Haiti and how Gators fans can contribute.
Special envelopes will be distributed at the game for fans considering a monetary donation, which they may take home and mail. All proceeds will go directly to the Red Cross and its efforts for Haiti. No monetary donations will be accepted at the game itself.
Florida faced a 12-point deficit at the start of the second half and didn't help its cause in the opening minutes, as the Gators committed two quick turnovers and Alabama nailed a deep jumper to extended its lead to 40-29.
Steffi Sorensen got on the board for the first time in the game with a three-pointer from right side, but the Gators continued to turn the ball over and commit fouls, as UF was whistled for four to equal its miscue mark by the 15:45 mark.
Alabama, meanwhile, continued to score and used an 11-0 run to build a commanding 50-29 lead with 12:28 remaining.
Florida kept subbing players trying to find chemistry and someone who could end the scoring drought, as the Gators missed nine consecutive shots after Sorensen's bucket.
UF did find a spark and ripped off seven points in less than one minute, with free throws coming from Tessah Holt and Ndidi Madu and an offensive putback from Azania Stewart cut the hole to 14 points, 50-36, with 11:09 left to play.
But just as quickly as the Gators trimmed the deficit, the Tide regrouped with a 9-0 spree over the next two minutes and assumed a 59-36 lead and never looked back.
Each of Alabama's first six points of the game off of Gator turnovers, as UF committed four in the first four minutes of the contest.
Florida pounded the ball inside early, with Azania Stewart scoring the first four points of the game. Alabama came right back with the next six points, all coming off Gator turnovers.
The game continued to be close, as Ndidi Madu's 15-foot jumper tied the score for the fifth time less than seven minutes into the contest.
After Madu's bucket evened the game at 12-all, Alabama went on a 10-2 run and took a 22-14 lead with 10:15 to play in the opening half.
Florida seniors Jennifer Mossor and Sharielle Smith answered with three-pointers and quickly cut the deficit to two points, 22-20, with 7:10 on the clock. The Tide, however scored the next four points, before Smith hit a pair of free throws to keep Florida at a distance.
The teams traded scores and Alabama continued its hot shooting to end the half on a 10-2 spree that left the Gators trailing at halftime, 38-26.
Tierney Jenkins ripped off 17 points and seven rebounds to lead Alabama, which shot 51.7 percent (15-29) in the first half and held a 21-16 rebounding edge.
The Gators, who committed 10 turnovers, hit just 33.3 percent (10-13) from the floor in the opening stanza, with Smith leading the scoring with nine points that helped her reach the 800-point plateau for her career.
Other special events for Sunday's game:
*Men's Basketball Reward Program - Bring your ticket stub from the men's game vs. South Carolina the day before for free general admission!
*The first 1,000 fans receive Gator wallets courtesy of Sun Sports!
*Family 4 Pack Sunday - Purchase 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, and 4 sodas for only $20!
*Gator Booster Appreciation Day - All Gator Boosters will valid ID receive free admission!
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