The Florida women's basketball team (5-1) turned 24 Virginia Tech turnovers into 28 points off those miscues, as the Gators won their third-straight game and remained perfect in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center (4-0) with a 73-44 win over the Hokies (4-3). Cassie Peoples matched a career-high five three pointers, as she scored a season-high 19 points in UF's SEC Network debut.
The Gators are now 3-1 all-time against VT, including a 1-1 mark under head coach Amanda Butler, who earned her first career win tonight against the Hokies, avenging last season's 71-59 loss in Blacksburg, Va.
UF opened the game on a 10-2 tear, capped off by a Carlie Needles' three-pointer with 16:10 remaining in the half. The triple forced Virginia Tech to call and regroup.
They did.
The Hokies answered with a 9-2 run of their own, limiting the UF lead to one point (12-11) at the 11:05 mark of the opening stanza. Kayla Lewis then took matters into her own hands, as she recorded an and-one with 9:49 left, which spurred on a 10-2 Gators' run.
Florida never looked back and held a 31-22 advantage at intermission.
In the second half, UF opened the frame on an 18-4 run, as the Gators grabbed a 23-point lead at the 15:24 mark, following a layup by Lewis. They continued to attack the rim, scoring 20 points in the paint, and played solid defense in holding VT to just 31% on 15-of-48 shooting from the field, growing its lead to as many 29 points in the second half.
UF never trailed in tonight's game, as the contest marked the second time this season that Florida led a game wire-to-wire. The Gators previously achieved this feat in their season-opener against Jacksonville on Nov. 14, 2014, in the O'Dome.
Florida is back in action on Thursday, as the Gators travel to Savannah, Ga., to take on Savannah State (3-1) in Tiger Arena at 6 p.m.
Postgame Press Conference Video (FREE): Head coach Amanda Butler, Kayla Lewis and Cassie Peoples from GatorVision: http://www.gatorvision.tv/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=3573210&db_oem_id=6500
SEC Network Recap Video: http://www.gatorvision.tv/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=3573208&db_oem_id=6500
Records:
· Florida: 5-1
· Virginia Tech: 4-3
Turning Point:
· Following a Virginia Tech 9-2 run that closed the UF lead to 12-11, Kayla Lewis had an and-one at the 9:49 mark, which spurred a 10-2 Gators' run. Florida never looked back and carried the 22-13 lead all the way to the final buzzer.
Stat Line of the Game:
· Cassie Peoples had a season high with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while tying a career-high with five treys on six attempts. The redshirt junior added four assists and three boards.
Series Update:
· With its win tonight, UF is 3-1 all-time against the Hokies and 1-1 under head coach Amanda Butler.
· Florida and Virginia Tech last met on Nov. 14, 2013, when the Hokies defeated the Gators in Blacksburg, Va., 71-59.
· Prior to tonight's win, the last UF victory over Virginia Tech came on March 16, 1998, when Florida won 89-57, in Gainesville during the NCAA Tournament.
Numbers of Note:
· UF improved to 4-0 at home on the season with its win over Virginia Tech. The last time Florida started a season 4-0 at home came during the 2012-13 season, when UF began the season 9-0 on its home court and ended the year 11-5 at the O'Dome.
· The Gators led, 31-21, at halftime and never trailed during tonight's contest, marking the second time this year UF has led wire-to-wire (Jacksonville, Nov. 14).
· Virginia Tech had 14 turnovers in the first half and 24 in the contest.
· Florida outrebounded the Hokies, 36-29.
· UF shot 48.0% from the field in the first half on 12-of-25 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three-point range.
· The Hokies shot just 1-for-18 from long distance (5.6%). It marked the lowest percentage by a Gator opponent this season.
· The Gators improved to 4-0 this season when wearing their white jerseys and 4-0 when leading at the half.
Double-Figures:
· Cassie Peoples (19) and Kayla Lewis (15) both scored in double-figures for the Gators.
Streaks:
· With the win over the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) school, UF has now won nine-consecutive non-conference home games.
· Peoples connected on a three-pointer at the 18:58 mark of the first half, extending the Gators' consecutive games with a trey streak to 137
Individuals:
· Peoples scored a season-high 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while tying a career-high with five three-pointers
· Peoples eclipsed 425 career points and now has 430 in her career
· Lewis made her 66th-career start and 39th consecutive as a Gator
· Lewis netted 15 points and scored her 850th-career point; the redshirt senior now has 856 career points
· Carlie Needles scored her 500th-career point and finished with eight points. She now has 506 points in her career
Quotes from the Court:
Head Coach Amanda Butler
Opening Statement:
“I'm really proud of the way that we played defense today. It is something that we have been harping on and really trying to work on. I think that we did a great job of carrying over the things that we have been working on in practice, on the defensive end in particular. I think that is why Cassie [Peoples] and Kayla [Lewis] had great offensive nights. Forty-four points against an ACC [Atlantic Coast Conference] opponent [Virginia Tech], one that I think is a very good team. They are young and when they get a few more games under their belts, they are going to be really dangerous. I am really impressed with that and [with] winning the rebounding battle, which is something that we have been struggling to do this year.”
On out-rebounding the Hokies:
“You just want to be more aggressive. Our leading rebounder is Carlie [Needles], so height doesn't have a whole lot to do with rebounding. It's attempts, heart, desire and being fearless. She's a leading rebounder in the SEC right now and is probably one of the shortest players. We don't ever look at that [size] as a part of how we are going to rebound against them.”
Redshirt Junior Guard Cassie Peoples
On her performance tonight:
“I haven't been shooting too well from the three point line this year, so I got in the gym and shot 200 times before the game today. That helped to get me a little bit more comfortable, and as far as the assists, I try to get into the paint and to kick it [the ball] out. My team is really good about finishing and picking their spots.”
Redshirt Senior Guard Kayla Lewis
On her performance tonight:
“We worked all week in our preparation about getting into the middle, and that is a part of my game: finding my spots and the holes in the defense. Their zone [defense] was open in the middle, so I just followed the game plan. It was just a means of executing and hitting the shots.”
Next Game:
· What: Florida (5-1) Savannah State (3-1)
· When: Thursday, Nov. 4, 2014 at 6 p.m.
· Where: Tiger Arena * Savannah, Ga.
Game Coverage & More!
· Radio: LIVE on ESPN850 (WRUF-AM) in Gainesville with Adam Schick & Brittany Davis
· Internet Audio: LIVE thru www.GatorZone.com (FREE)
· Television: none
· Internet Video: http://www.ssuathletics.com/watch/?Live=198
· Internet Scoring: http://www.sidearmstats.com/savstate/wbball/
For all of the latest information on Florida women's basketball:
Official Website: www.gatorzone.com/basketball/women
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FloridaWomensBasketball
Twitter: @GatorZoneWBK and @CoachButlerUF
Instagram: @gatorzonewbk
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