Florida Gators
1-0,0-0SEC
Bucknell
0-1,0-0Patriot
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bucknell | 14 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 60 |
| Florida | 27 | 15 | 20 | 21 | 83 |
Monday, November 2, 2026 | Women's Basketball
McMiller scores 31, Harris adds career-high 26 in first start
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In the first game of the Tammi Reiss era, the Florida women's basketball team secured an 83-60 win over Bucknell in the season opener on Monday night at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
The Gators were led by Kiyomi McMiller and Vanessa Harris who poured in 31 and 26 points respectively. McMiller's 31 points were the third most by a member of the Gators in a season opener, as were her 14 made field goals. Harris' 26 points set a new career high, besting her previous high-water mark of 19.
Aurora Almón led all Gators with 10 rebounds, while Jordan Jones, Harris and McMiller each added six boards.
The 23 point win marked the eighth straight season-opening win for the Gators, and Tammi Reiss' first win as the Florida women's basketball head coach.
The Gators shot an efficient 54.8 percent from the field, marking the highest field goal percentage in season opener history.
Florida led 12-9 with 4:39 on the clock in the first, but scored 13 of the next 15 points, and led at the break by 13. Harris had 11 points in the period and connected on both of her three-point field goal attempts, while McMiller added eight. The Gators went 11 for 19 from the field, and made six of their final seven shots of the stanza to lead 27-14 after the first.
Harris picked up right where she left off in the second hitting another shot from behind the arc for her third triple of the night. Bucknell found a spark of offense in an 11-0 run during the later half of the second quarter as Florida went more than five minutes without scoring. McMiller ended the drought on the last possession of the half to put the Gators on top 42-25 heading into halftime.
Slowly but surely, the Gators extended their lead over the final two quarters — an and-one play from McMiller put the Gators ahead 62-42 at the end of the third, and in the fourth, Florida shot 76.9 percent from the floor.
Florida returns to action Thursday, Nov. 5, against UCF at 4:30 p.m. in the O'Connell Center, kicking off a doubleheader night in the Gators' home arena. Florida men's basketball follows with its home opener at 8 p.m.
Gator Bites:
- The 83-60 win marks the first win in the Tammi Reiss era
- Florida women's basketball earned its eighth straight win in season openers
- Vanessa Harris made her first career start and scored a career-high 26 points
- Aurora Almón grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds, besting her previous high of seven
- Kiyomi McMiller's 14 made field goals mark the third highest in program history in Florida season openers
- Kiyomi McMiller's 31 points ranks third all time in season openers in Florida women's basketball history
- The Orange & Blue shot 54.8 percent from the field, making it the highest field goal percentage in season opener history
From the mouths of the Gators
On the offense...
"I was really satisfied with our offensive execution. How we hunted the paint today, didn't settle for the three, got in the lane, and attacked the rim. Our guard play was stellar today. I literally could have run anything downhill and Vanessa and Kiyomi executed it."
On Aurora Almón's impact on the game...
"Aurora was huge. Aurora did not feel well yesterday, she was battling bad migraines yesterday and I did not know how she was going to feel today coming in. Vivian was under the weather, but Aurora we said in the locker room was fantastic. You know defensively it is hard for fives to play on the perimeter and guard a motion offense. So, I thought she did a tremendous job talking, her activity, her relentlessness on the boards. That is what she does, she is a rebounder. I thought just all around game for Aurora today. It was a huge boost for us off the bench."
Kiyomi McMiller
On running the offense getting downhill and getting others involved...
"I think being aggressive creates openings for my teammates. When I drive in and the offense collapses, I can kick it out and I know Vanessa over there, 3-5 (from the three point line), that is pretty good if I say so myself."
Vanessa Harris
On her first game as a Gator...
Post Game Press Conference: Head Coach Tammi Reiss, Vanessa Harris and Kiyomi McMiller"My first game as a Gator, it meant a lot. I mean it's a career high, so whether I was at Florida or if I was still at Rhode Island, just doing something new was exciting for me."
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