Deans’ Career Effort Not Enough Against No. 5 LSU

Despite a career effort from KK Deans, Gators women’s basketball (14-13, 3-11 SEC) dropped a game to a hot shooting No. 5 LSU (25-1,13-1 SEC) on Sunday in the O’Dome, 90-79.

https://twitter.com/LSUwbkb/status/1627670321443766273?s=20

Deans Shows Out vs Top Talent

Despite a loss for the Gators, senior guard, KK Deans, had a career performance on the hardwood, tallying 30 points against one of the most well-rounded teams in the country.

She had the hot hand, shooting 10 for 20 including five three-pointers. Deans would finish with five assists, two rebounds and two steals as well.

However, Deans’s performance along with Florida’s largest home crowd of the season (3,498) was no match for LSU boasting an away record of 9-1.

And 1 by @kkdeans followed by a 3⃣! #GoGators

LSU 57 | Gators 50 pic.twitter.com/lRQdqwUG9s

— Gators Women’s Basketball (@GatorsWBK) February 19, 2023

Blow for Blow

1st Quarter:

The Gators had alternating efforts in Sunday’s game.

With a quick 13-7 start out of the gate, seven of them coming from Deans, LSU quickly responded with an 8-0 run, but kept it close ending the 1st quarter behind 27-23.

2nd Quarter: 

The ballgame opened in the second quarter as UF and LSU exchanged punches.

It started with the Tigers going on another 10-point run while holding the Gators to no points.

The Gators struck back midway through the second with their own 6-0 run. However, LSU responded with a career game of their own from grad transfer guard Jasmine Carson.

Carson set a career-high before halftime with five made threes as she and sophomore forward Jordan Reese combined for 31 first-half points.

With a 10-2 run, the Tigers went into the locker room at the half with a score of 47-31.

https://twitter.com/LSUwbkb/status/1627403371257765890?s=20

Pulling Away

3rd Quarter:

Defense in The Swamp came alive, holding the Tigers scoreless for almost five and a half minutes to open the second half. During that span, efforts from other Gators kept it close with junior forward Jordyn Merritt stepping up and finishing with 12 points, three steals and two turnovers.

This complimented KK Deans’ full-game dominance, as Deans would close out the third with six more points of her own.

LSU was held to just 4-of-15 shooting during the third and turned the ball over seven times which tightened their lead to 59-50 at the end of the quarter.

Still working heading into the 4th! #GoGators pic.twitter.com/VN54Ho7RJK

— Gators Women’s Basketball (@GatorsWBK) February 19, 2023

4th Quarter: 

The Tigers showed why they have just one loss on the season (No. 1 South Carolina) at the end of the game.

As Deans fired off 13 points in a last effort for victory, they kept the Gator crowd at bay with freshman guard Flau’jae Johnson dropping 10 points. She made all four of her attempts as Reese scored 11 more to finish with 25 points and 16 rebounds.

The Gators finished with an impressive 85% from the free throw line, but LSU was hot where it mattered most.

The Tigers were 11 for 20 (55%) from long range with Reese’s 7 for 14.  This would boost the Tigers to an eventual 11-point win over the Gators.

https://twitter.com/LSUwbkb/status/1627414357024948224?s=20

Up Next

Florida will stay home for senior day on Thursday as they welcome Alabama to Exactech Arena for a 6 p.m. matchup.