Florida nearly overcame a woeful first half and a 17-point deficit, but missed a couple crucial defensive rebounds in the final minutes in a 49-44 loss to South Carolina Sunday afternoon at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
The loss overshadowed another stellar individual effort by junior forward Jennifer George (Orlando, Fla.), who posted 16 points and 11 rebounds along with a season-high six blocks for her eighth consecutive double-double, a run tied for the fourth longest in UF history and the longest of its kind since Murriel Page’s record-setting 13-game streak during the 1997-98 season.
After George hit a layup and brought Florida within one point, 13-12, with 9:18 remaining in the first half, South Carolina mounted a 18-2 run over the next 8:38 and took a 31-14 lead, handing the Gator’s a 17-point deficit, their largest of the season, surpassing the 15-point hole UF found itself midway through the second half of a 14-point loss to Rutgers on Dec. 2.
Jordan Jones (Suwanee, Ga.) hit one free throw with 38 seconds remaining to end 11 straight points by the Gamecocks, as Florida was held without a field goal for the final 9:18 of the half and entered the halftime locker room trailing, 31-15.
The 15 points were the third fewest UF has scored in the first half of an SEC regular-season game, as South Carolina managed to convert 14 Gator turnovers into 13 points. The Gators hit only 30.4 percent (7-23) from the floor during the opening half, while turning the ball over 14 points.
"You have to give South Carolina a lot of credit with the way that first half went,” UF coach Amanda Butler said. “That wasn't the story of the game, but it definitely set the tone and I give credit to them because we didn't come out ready to take care of our home floor and in this league it doesn't make any difference who you're playing, you're going to get punched in the mouth if you are not ready to go from the first whistle.”
