Gators Pick Up First Road Win in, 59-51, Defensive Slugfest at Florida Atlantic

Monday, November 24

Boca Raton, FL

7 p.m.

Florida Gators

6-1,0-0SEC

Florida Atlantic

2-3,0-0American

Florida

Fla. Atlantic

Gators Pick Up First Road Win in, 59-51, Defensive Slugfest at Florida Atlantic

Monday, November 24, 2025 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: John Maxwell

BOCA RATON, Fla. — The Florida Women's Basketball team improved to 6-1 on the season, Monday, using a stifling defensive effort to upend Florida Atlantic (2-3), 60-51. Junior Laila Reynolds led the Gators' offensive efforts with 17 points, while freshman Caterina Piatti recorded her first collegiate double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

KEY RUNS
1st Quarter (Gators 14, Owls 8)

Florida scored the first four points of the game, and never trailed in the period. The Gators tried to take advantage of their height early as 15 of their 18 field goal attempts were taken from well inside the paint. Caterina Piatti benefitted most from the strategy leading all scorers with six points through the first 10 minutes of play. On the defensive end, Florida held the Owls to four of 20 shooting from the field, recording four blocks and a pair of steals.

2nd Quarter (Gators 25, Owls 24)

The Gators scored the first two baskets of the period, but the Owls countered with a 9-0 run over the next 4:31 to slice Florida's advantage to one, 18-17. A Me'Arah O'Neal free throw ended the streak, but a Michiyah Simmons three-pointer gave Florida Atlantic its first lead of the game, 20-19. A pair of Gift Ezekiel free throws with 0.5 seconds on the clock out the Gators up at the break.

3rd Quarter (Gators 44, Owls 39)

Neither team led by more than three points in the quarter until a Me'Arah O'Neal put-back at the buzzer game the Gators a five-point lead. The period saw six lead changes and one tie.

4th Quarter (Gators 59, Owls 51)

Florida scored the first six points of the period, to extend its run to 10-0 across the third and fourth quarters, and go up 50-39 with 7:30 remaining. Florida Atlantic cut the Gators lead to six late, but couldn't close the gap any further.

KEY STATS

Florida went 19 for 26 from the free throw line while the Owls went 10 for 13.
Florida forced the Owls into 19 turnovers which the Gators flipped into 13 points. Meanwhile, Florida Atlantic scored 24 points off of 21 Florida miscues.
The Owls outscored the Gators, 19-8, in fast break points
Florida outscored Florida Atlantic, 40-28, in the paint.

FROM THE GATORS' MOUTHS

Coach Finley on picking up their first road win shorthanded … "I really liked our composure. I liked our determination and our resilience. We executed very, very well. We worked on that high-low game. It resulted in a couple of more turnovers than we've been having, but we were looking to execute what we set out to do. It was a very, very, very physical game. They let a lot go. So I was really proud of our forwards—Me'Arah, Cat, Gift—for their determination, their footwork inside, and their ability to mentally go to what's next, working through the frustration.
Coach Finley on the team's success on pounding the ball into the interior … "Early on I thought we were catching the ball a little bit too low. We were almost under the basket. We left 18 points on layups on the floor in the first half alone, but we really kind of settled in. We played a different style than what we've been playing. But we were able to keep our composure and execute when it was needed.
Coach Finley on Laila Reynolds and Alexia Dizeko taking over the ball-handling duties in the absence of point guard Liv McGill … "I though they did a tremendous job. Those two are the consummate Gators. They're competitors. They're tough. And they are going to do whatever it takes for the Gators to win games."
Coach Finley on the play of freshman forward Caterina Piatti who posted her first career double-double as a collegian … "That's what Cat's capable of. I asked her all week to be more vocal, to be assertive and aggressive on the offensive end of the floor. Defensively she is very versatile, and I was pleased with her minutes tonight, and with her composure down the stretch."

GATOR BITES

The Gators are now 9-1 all-time against Florida Atlantic, and have won six in a row against the Owls.
Caterina Piatti scored a career-high tying 14 points and added a career-high 10 rebounds for her first career double-double as a collegian.
Me'Arah O'Neal scored in double figures for the seventh straight game this season, and the ninth time in her career (11 points).
Me'Arah O'Neal blocked a career-high five shots. The last time a Gator blocked more than five shots in a game was on January 8, 2012 when Jennifer George blocked six vs. South Carolina.
Laila Reynolds scored in double figures for the sixth time this season, and the 32nd time in her career (17 points).
Nyadieng Yiech made her first start as a member of the Gators.

NEXT OPPONENT
The Gators remain on the road setting sail for the Canary Islands, as they take on Memphis on Friday, Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m. EST, and Georgia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 5 p.m.

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