JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Kentucky outscored Florida by 20 points in the second quarter and the Gators never recovered, as the No. 13-ranked and fifth-seeded Wildcats earned the 92-69 win in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Southeastern Conference Tournament played Friday at Jacksonville's Veterans Memorial Arena.
Kentucky couldn't find the bottom of the net in the first quarter when it converted just 3-17 shots and fourth-seeded Florida took advantage by outscoring the Wildcats, 16-9.
The second quarter couldn't have been more different, as everything Kentucky throw at the net seemed to fall en route to a 33-13 second-frame advantage for a 42-29 halftime lead over the Gators.
Kentucky advances to the SEC Tournament quarterfinals where it will play top-seeded South Carolina on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Florida was led in scoring by senior
Carlie Needles' 15 points, all of which came from beyond the arc. Freshman
Eleanna Christinaki added 12 points and junior
Ronni Williams 10, along with a team-high 8 rebounds for the Gators, who were outrebounded, 51-34, its largest discrepancy of the year.
How It HappenedFlorida ripped out of the gates with its first four field goals coming from beyond the arc, with senior
Carlie Needles canning the first two and
Cassie Peoples and
Carla Batchelor the others.
January Miller added a driving layup and the Gators held a quick 14-4 lead just 5:28 into the game.
After the teams traded buckets, Kentucky scored seven consecutive points and got within three, before
Ronni Williams and
Simone Westbrook combined for five points and held an eight-point cushion, 21-13, with 8:02 remaining in the first half.
That's when Kentucky ripped off a devastating, 29-8 run to end the half and Florida's lead was flipped into a 42-29 halftime deficit.
The Wildcats hit 13-of-20 shots (65 percent) during the second quarter, while the Gators managed just 6-21 from the floor during the crucial quarter.
Florida cut its deficit to nine points twice during the third quarter, the last time coming with 4:44 remaining, however, the Wildcats responded with a three-point-play and after one free throw from Williams, scored the next eight points for a 64-45 lead and the Gators never threatened again.
Updated Records:- Florida: 22-8
- Kentucky: 23-6
Not the Norm- Each of the last 10 games between Florida and Kentucky had been decided by 10 points or less, with 11 of the prior 12 by 7 points or fewer.
- In the five prior meetings, there were 45 lead changes and 35 tied scores. Friday's game featured just three lead changes and the score was never tied.
Quarterfinal Curse Continues- Florida fell to 4-18 all-time in SEC Quarterfinal games, last advancing to the round of four in 1998
- This was the Gator's 14th consecutive loss in the SEC quarterfinal round
- The Gators are now 2-5 against Kentucky in the SEC Tournament.
Numbers of Note- Kentucky's 92 points are the second-most allowed by Florida this season.
- Carlie Needles' five three-pointers tied the Gator record in an SEC Tournament game (Cassie Peoples-2014; Depree Bowden-2008)
- Needles' 15 points was a team-high, the fourth time she has led the Gators offensively this year, 10th time in career
- Junior Ronni Williams logged her team-leading 18th double-figure scoring game this year, 50th of career
- Freshman Eleanna Christinaki scored 12 points for her 16th double-figure scoring game
- Senior Carla Batchelor dished a career-high five assists
- The 23-point setback is Florida's most lopsided of the season
Postgame LinksWhat's Next for the Gators- The NCAA Women's Championship Selection Show is scheduled for Monday, March 14.
- ESPN will broadcast the field of 64 live beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
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