FLORIDA 93
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 43
 
 
WHAT HAPPENED
 
Point guard Aliyah Matharu led all scorers with 20 points, forward Leilani Correa added 18 points and center Ra Shaya Kyle hd 17 points and a game-high nine rebounds, as the Florida Gators defeated Florida Southern in an exhibition game Wednesday night at Exactech Arena that served as an unofficial opening to the 2023-24 season.
 
Matharu, a transfer from Texas making her UF debut, hit 10 of her 19 shots from the floor and also had six steals and three rebounds. Correa, who averaged double-figures off the bench last season, was in the starting lineup and made seven of her 12 field-goal attempts. Kyle was six of 11 from the floor, as well as five of six from the free-throw line, as the Gators shot 49.4 percent for the game despite making just four of 15 attempts from the 3-point arc, and turned the ball over just six times.
 
Junior guard Alberte Rimdal's 12 points, including two 3-pointers, gave the Gators four starters in double-figure scoring.
 
Heralded freshman forward Laila Reynolds, playing her first game in a UF uniform, had 11 points, four rebounds and two assists. Reynolds was a five-star recruit and just the second McDonald's All American to sign with the Gators. She played 19 minutes off the bench.
 
 
WORTH NOTING
 
* The Gators led 21-16 after the first quarter, but took a 43-24 lead into halftime by shooting 49 percent in the second period. The margin grew to 34 after three quarters behind 58-percent shooting for the period and Florida coasted home from there.
 
* The UF defense held FSC to 33-percent shooting for the game and scored 31 points off 22 turnovers.
 
* The Gators also out-rebounded the Moccasins 51-27, including 22-7 on the offensive end.
 
* FSC led for just 11 seconds.
 
* The Gators scored at least 21 points in all four periods.

 
THEY SAID IT
 
UF coach Kelly Rae Finley:
 
* (On the game): "It's always good to have a tune-up. I thought we were a little late on rotations all night on the defensive end of the floor, but that's something that can easily be fixed. We got caught watching the ball more than I would like us to, but that's correctable. I thought we were more physical, which is something we've been focusing on, and a little bit more disciplined on our defense, which has been an emphasis, yet I thought we could have taken a few more chances."
 
* (On Aliyah Matharu): "She played a pretty good floor game. She's dynamic in a lot of ways. She plays both ends. Plays hard always. She does a great job of setting the tone on the defensive end of the floor and has really worked hard to grow in her game management on the offensive end as well."
 
 
UF point guard Aliyah Matharu:
 
* (On playing her first game since March 2022): "I did all right. There were some areas of improvement that I can work out. Just some rust I need to knock off. I hadn't played in more than a year, so it'll take some time. But I'm excited to keep going and excited about this team."


NEXT UP
 
The Gators officially open the '23-24 regular season Monday against North Florida at the O'Dome. The game will tip off at 5:30 p.m. and be the first game of a double-header with the men's team, which will also open their season with an 8 p.m. start against Loyola Maryland.
 
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