TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida battled down a double-digit deficit to six points before No. 7 Florida State ripped off a 34-15 run in final 13 minutes for an 83-58 win in the Fresh From Florida SunShine Showdown at the Donald L. Tucker Center on Thursday evening.
This was the first time in the 73-game series that both instate rivals entered the game nationally ranked and for the first seven minutes and late into the second quarter it definitely took shape as such.
FSU used a 10-0 run near the end of the first quarter and held a 22-15 lead.
Florida (6-3) battled back in the second quarter and cut its deficit to five on several occasions, the last coming with 1:10 left in the first half after Haley Lorenzen took a feed from Eleanna Christinaki and the Gators were within 34-29.
The Seminoles (9-1) mounted another push to end this frame and scored the final five points and took a 39-29 halftime lead.
Numbers of Note
- Ronni Williams led Florida with 20 points and was the only Gator in double-figure scoring. It was her second 20-point game of the season and third of her career.
- FSU's entire starting five scored double-digits, paced by Laticia Romero's 21.
- Florida actually hit a slightly better field goal percentage at 40.7 percent (24-59) compared to FSU's 40.3 percent (27-67).
- The Gators were outrounded for the second straight game, 45-35, with 17 of FSU's coming on the offensive end that it turned into 19 second chance points.
- UF's 27 turnovers were a season high.
Technically, a Tough Stretch
- The Gators missed an opportunity to shave off a good part of their deficit in the third quarter by converting just 2-of-6 free throws during a short span.
- Four of those attempts came during a technical foul situation against Florida State. Delicia Washington was fouled attempted a layup and was then shoved.
- Eleanna Christinaki shot and made the two technical free throws, however, the officials realized their mistake of having her shoot first and waved off the makes. Washington then missed both of her attempts. Christinaki went back to the line for the technical foul free throws and made one this time, inching the Gators closer at 47-40.
- Florida then got the ball but wasn't able to capitalize offensively, and what could have been at least a six-point swing was just one point.
- Just 30 second late, Ronni Williams went to the free throw line and connected on just one that brought the score to 47-41 with 4:41 remaining in the third quarter.
The Ensuing Run
- After that technical-foul stretch, the teams traded free throws and with Florida still within six points, 49-43, and 3:20 remaining in the third quarter, Florida State ripped off the last eight straight points of the quarter and stretched its lead to 14 points, 57-43,
- The Gators were able to get within single digit points, 59-50, after Brooke Copeland knocked down a three and Christinaki added a layin with 8:11 to play.
- FSU countered with a 14-2 run over the next four minutes and took a 73-52 lead with 4:14 remaining and the Gators never recovered.
First Half Foul Woes Continue
- For the second consecutive game, Florida found its frontcourt in significant foul trouble, with Ronni Williams (3), Haley Lorenzen (2) and Tyshara Fleming (2) each hearing the whistle early and often.
- Williams' third foul was particularly frustrating, as she was called trying to block a three-point shot with 50 seconds remaining in the half. While Imani Wright made just one of those attempts from the line, Ivey Slaughter grabbed her final attempt and put it back for an easy layup that brought the score to 37-29.
- Starting guard Delicia Washington picked up two in the first quarter and played just four minutes as a result.
- The frontcourt's foul trouble helped contributed to the Gators being outrebounded 26-12 during the first half.
- FSU outscored UF 11-0 on second chance points, with the 'Noles gathering 13 offensive boards.
Postgame Video Links
What's Next for the Gators
- When: Sun., Dec. 8 * 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT
- Who: Florida vs. North Carolina A&T
- Where: Panama City, Fla. * Gulf Coast State College's Billy Harrison Field House
Gator Pronunciations for this release:
- ELEANNA CHRISTINAKI: L-ee-on-uh chris-tin-OCK-ee
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