GREENVILLE, S.C. — Florida defeated the Missouri Tigers 66-60 in its first test of the postseason. The Gators finished with four players in double-digit scoring: Leilani Correa (15 points), Aliyah Matharu (14), Alberte Rimdal (12), and Jeriah Warren (10). Matharu also played a large role defensively, leading on the boards with nine rebounds.
 
The Gators tallied the first two points of the game against Missouri with a driving Layup from freshman Laila Reynolds. Reynolds shortly followed up with a jumper from inside the paint to give the Gators a 4-2 lead in the first two minutes of play. The Tigers hit a three-pointer to take a 5-4 lead and never trailed again in the first. The score stood at 16-13 with the Gators down by three going into the second quarter.
 
Florida came out with a renewed energy to start the second quarter, going on a 16-point run and leaving Missouri scoreless for five minutes and 15 seconds. The Gators were led on offense by Rimdal with eight points, followed by Matharu with six. The Gators totaled 29 points in the second quarter and shot 68.4 percent from the field. At the end of the first half Florida was ahead by a margin of 16 points (42-16).
 
At the beginning of the third, Florida notched six points, increasing the lead to 20 (at 48-28) before Missouri increased its offensive pressure. The Tigers went on a 17-point run that shaved Florida's lead down and got the scoring margin to as low as six. The Gators were held to only eight points in the third, their lowest scoring quarter of the game. Correa was responsible for half the Gators third-quarter points, with a game total of 10 going into the final quarter.
 
The score stood at 50-43 going into the fourth with Florida ahead by seven. The final 10 minutes were a back and forth battle with both SEC teams fighting to see round two of the tournament. With four minutes left on the clock, Florida was in front by three at 60-57, marking ots smallest lead of the half. After the Tigers got within one possession, the Gators locked in to avoid Missouri getting any closer to their postseason victory. Ultimately Florida finished out 66-60, scoring on its final three possessions.
 
IN THE FIRST:

• Florida's first four points of the contest came from Laila Reynolds (4-2)
  • This marked the Gators only lead of the first quarter
• The Gators were down (10-4) at the first media time out
  • Matharu went on a five-point run to bring the score back within one (10-9)
• Missouri had zero second chance points and zero points off rebounds
• Florida totaled 11 rebounds with Warren snagging five
• Eriny Kindred and Warren each tallied a block
• The Gators forced four turnovers on the Tigers
• Florida was down by three at the end of the first (16-13)

IN THE SECOND:

• Coming out in the second Correa hit a jumper in the paint within the first 10 seconds to get the margin back to one (16-15)
  • Florida then regained the lead at 9:05 (17-16)
• A key play in the second was a steal from Correa, converting to a driving layup by Matharu at 7:36 to give Florida a five-point lead (21-16)
• The Gators forced four turnovers on Missouri within a two-minute window (8:20-6:49)
• Florida's largest lead of the quarter was at 16 which was hit twice
  • 38-22 (2:42)
  • 42-26 (00:39)
• Rimdal held a shooting percentage of 100 going three of three from the field and two of wo from the three-point line
• Florida finished the quarter with a 68.4 shooting percentage from the field
• The Gators scored 29 points in the second, their highest-scoring quarter of the game

 
IN THE THIRD:

• Florida grabbed its largest lead of the game with a 20-point margin (48-28)
• Correa led on offense with four of Florida's eight points
  • This marked the Gators lowest-scoring quarter of the game
• Missouri got the margin down to as low as six in the third after a 17-point run
• Florida secured 11 rebounds with Reynolds, Warren, and Faith Dut each grabbing two
• The Gators totaled four points in the paint and two offensive rebounds
• Heading into the final 10 minutes, Florida led 50-43

IN THE FOURTH:

• Warren knocked down a three at 8:21 to get Florida ahead by double-digits once more (58-46)
• The game was within three (60-57) with less than four minutes to play
• Correa and Warren led the Gators in scoring with five points apiece
• The Gators had four points in the paint, three off turnovers, and three off rebounds
• Matharu led on defense with three rebounds
• Florida out-rebounded the Tigers 9-8 in the fourth

 
WORTH NOTING:

• After 40 minutes, Florida out-rebounded Mizzou 40-36
• The Gators only outscored the Tigers in one of four quarter
  • Q2: 29-10
• Florida ended the second quarter shooting 68.4 percent from the field (13 of19), its highest percentage for a quarter this season
• Matharu recorded her career high in rebounds with nine
• Matharu recorded her second time this season leading Florida on the boards
• Rimdal secured her 10th game in double figures for scoring this season with 12 points
• Correa led the team in scoring for the 14th time this season
• With 15 points, Correa has now reached double digits in 25 contests this season and 38 at UF
• Overall, Florida went 27-for-63 from the field, yielding 43 percent
• Florida outscored Missouri in four different categories:
  • Points off turnovers (17-11)
  • Points in the paint (32-22)
  • Points on fast breaks (10-2)
  • Bench points (29-8)
• The Gators had four players in double-figure scoring:
  • Correa (15)
  • Matharu (14)
  • Rimdal (12)
  • Warren (10)
• This mark's the Gators first postseason win in program history over Mizzou
• Florida now has a total of 23 SEC tournament wins in program history 
• The win over Missouri marks the program's 17^th victory in the state South Carolina

 
TEAM RECORDS:
Florida: 15-14 (6-11 SEC)
Missouri (11-19, 2-15 SEC):
 
SERIES RECORD:
Despite Florida's victory, the all-time series between the Gators and Missouri is still in favor of the Tigers at 11-5. The Gators have won the last three meetings.
 
NEXT UP:
Florida will advance to round two of the 2024 SEC Tournament and face Vanderbilt Thursday night. The Commodores finished in sixth place in the conference, guaranteeing a first-round bye in Greenville.

Vanderbilt's last contest was on March 3 against the Georgia Bulldogs. The Commodores hosted Georgia in their last regular season game of 2024 and defeated the Bulldogs 72-55. Vanderbilt was led by Iyana Moore with a 28-point performance and Sacha Washington on the boards, securing 13 rebounds. Washington also checked out with 13 points to claim her seventh double-double of the 2023-24 season.
 
VANDERBILT (22-8, 9-7 SEC):

• Date: Thursday, Mar. 7
• Time: 8:30 p.m.
• Site: Bon Secours Wellness Arena
• Stream: SECN
• Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM
• Stats: StatBroadcast

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