Florida Takes on Bowling Green in WNIT Great Eight

Florida women’s basketball looks to escape the Great Eight of the WNIT unscathed and advance to the Fab Four.

The Matchup

The Gators squad will meet Bowling Green in the quarterfinal of the WNIT.

Bowling Green has seen their path to the Great Eight go almost uncontested.

Their only matchup that was decided by less than double digits was their first game against Liberty where they won by seven. Bowling Green sits at a record of 30-6, and their tournament play so far has reflected that.

Florida began the tournament with a nail-biter against Wofford.

They snuck away with a marginal three-point victory. From there, it has been all Gators. Florida defeated both Wake Forest and Clemson by double digits, blazing their path to the quarterfinal. The Gators look to continue their momentum and do what no one has been able to do this tournament – neutralize Bowling Green’s offense.

Time to be Great!

🆚: Bowling Green
⌚️: 6:00 PM EST
📍: Bowling Green, OH#GoGators pic.twitter.com/5SUgtigxuR

— Gators Women’s Basketball (@GatorsWBK) March 27, 2023

Drama After the Game

As if Bowling Green did not already have everything to play for this tournament, their victory over Memphis lit a new spark under this already flaming hot team.

As the two teams were shaking hands after the game, Elissa Brett of Bowling Green was struck in the head by one of Memphis’s players after an unknown verbal altercation. Elissa Brett reportedly received light swelling around her right eye due to the strike. Brett is OK and making a full recovery, but she, along with her teammates, is not happy. The Bowling Green Police Department is charging Jamirah Shutes with assault. Memphis stated that they are in full cooperation.

BGSU women’s basketball overcame Memphis to advance to the final 8 of the WNIT. Jamira Shutes punched Elissa Brett in the face, resulting in criminal charges by the BGSU police department.

Should we get rid of the hand shake line? Or is the sportsmanship worth the risk? pic.twitter.com/OCl6L9NGsT

— Gabriel Schray (@schrayguy) March 24, 2023

Shutes and Brett had an interaction late in the first quarter where Shutes and teammate Sophie Dziekan double-teamed Brett. Dziekan struck Brett in the face, resulting in Brett not returning until the third quarter.

Gators Aim for Greatness

The Gators advanced to the Great Eight for the first time in 10 years with a win over Clemson.

The game was tight through the first half, but the Gators pulled further and further away down the stretch.

KK Deans came out with a purpose, draining three, three-point jumpers immediately to start the game. Deans converted on four three-pointers in just the first quarter against Clemson. Including Deans, Florida had five players in the double digits.

Bowling Green has only allowed their opponents to score a mean of about 64 points through the first three games of the tournament.

"It's GR8 to be a Florida Gator!"#GoGators pic.twitter.com/QKuPXn1HMp

— Gators Women’s Basketball (@GatorsWBK) March 25, 2023

The Gators and Bowling Green meet Monday at 6 p.m. for a spot in the WNIT Fab Four.