Rough Patch Continues For Florida Women’s Basketball

The Gator women’s basketball team lost its third consecutive home game as Florida loses to Ole Miss on Thursday 88-81.  The Rebels (8-11, 1-5 SEC) out rebounded the Gators 48-44 and shot an unbelievable 90% from beyond the arc in the first half as Ole Miss wins its first SEC game of the year.  The Gators (13-7, 2-4 SEC) just couldn’t keep up with Ole Miss point guard Valencia McFarland who scored 24 points and recorded 10 assists on the evening.  Florida head coach Amanda Butler says it’s a difficult task to stop such a diverse player.

While McFarland was the key contributor for Ole Miss, the Gators relied on several key players to put points on the board.  Once again, junior guard Jaterra Bonds came up big towards the end of the game after struggling from the field in the first half.  Although she scored 16 points, Bonds says the team morale is at a seemingly all time low and that’s going to have to change if they want to get back on the winning track.

Freshmen January Miller and Sydney Moss added to the offense’s success, scoring 14 and 12 points, respectively.  Redshirt sophomore Kayla Lewis stepped up in a big way as well, putting up a team high 23 points and nabbing seven boards.  Regardless of her efforts, Lewis says the teams’ inability to win games in these kinds of situations is extremely frustrating.

The Gators continue their run in the SEC on the road as they travel to take on No. 19/18 Georgia on Sunday.  Tip off for that game is set for 1 p.m.