Lackluster Performance Lands Gator Women’s Hoops In Losing Column Again

And the hits just keep on coming. Make that three consecutive losses for the Florida women’s basketball team who fell to Vanderbilt 68-57 Thursday night in the O’Dome.

The Gators (15-12, 4-9 SEC) entered halftime scoring a season-low 15 first half points while the Commodores (17-9, 7-6 SEC) hit 44 percent of their shots and recorded 14 of their 26 points from inside the paint. Florida head coach Amanda Butler says it’s disappointing to see these moments from her team because she knows they are capable of so much more.

But bring it they did. The second half opened up with a 12-0 run by the Gators, holding Vandy scoreless for four and a half minutes of play. Unfortunately, the hole the Orange and Blue dug themselves into was just too deep. Butler says when playing quality opponents, it’s never good to fall that far behind.

Lone senior and Gator forward Jennifer George led Florida with her eighth double-double of the year with 13 points and 11 rebounds. George thinks a lack of intensity is what plagued her squad Thursday.

Also on the double-double grind was freshman Sydney Moss who finished the game with a team-high 15 points while nabbing 10 boards. Regardless of her performance, Moss says individual stats don’t matter and she’d take a victory over a high scoring game any day.

One player who was sure to be happy about her offensive performance is Vanderbilt senior forward Tiffany Clarke. She recorded a game high 26 points, 20 of them coming in the second half. Though the Gators knew how great of a presence Clarke would be in the paint, Butler says something must not have clicked with her team defensively ‘because Clarke got any look she wanted.’

With three games left until the SEC Tournament, the Gators are in desperate need of a win, if not for their record, but for a little pride and motivation. Florida overcame a five-game slump earlier this month with an 87-54 victory over Alabama. Perhaps the Gators can again break their losing streak by beating the Tide, but this time it will have to be on the road as Florida travels to Tuscaloosa on Sunday for an afternoon matchup.