Azania
Stewart
(Wood Green, England) notched her first double-double of the season, Ndidi
Madu (Antioch, Tenn.) scored a season-high 12 points and Florida defeated
LSU, 73-64, at the Pete Maravich Center on Thursday evening for its first win
in Baton Rouge since Jan. 21, 1996.
The
Gators (14-8, 4-5 SEC), who led wire to wire against the Lady Tigers (14-8, 4-5
SEC), earned just their fourth-ever victory in Baton Rouge, halting an
eight-game slide in the Maravich Center.
Thursday’s
win capped a tough three-game Southeastern Conference road trip for Florida,
which was coming off a heartbreaking 73-72 double-overtime loss at Arkansas
where the Gators missed 14 free throws.
Against
the Tigers, the Gators stepped up and answered each time LSU cut their lead to
six points, the last time coming with 4:15 remaining in the game as the Tigers
were in the midst of a 6-2 run.
Florida
responded with a 6-0 spurt, with field goals from Jennifer George
(Orlando, Fla.), Jaterra Bonds (Gainesville, Fla.) and Stewart, who put
back an offensive rebound.
Stewart
also was big on LSU’s next offensive possession, as she blocked two shots, marking
the 21st consecutive game she has swatted at least one.
LSU
scored the next two points of the game and cut Florida’s lead to seven points,
64-57, with 2:41 remaining, but Lanita Bartley came through with a tough
driving layup. LSU star LaSondra Barrett netted her first field goal of the
game, but Bartley answered again with two free throws, before Stewart snatched
an airball from a teammate and put it in as the shot clock was winding down, as
she collected her season-high 10th rebound to accompany her 12
points that resulted in the sixth double-double of her career. The points also
gave Florida a 70-59 lead with 64 seconds remaining and the Gators hit 3-of-4
free throws to seal the victory.
“This
was a total team effort in every way, starting with the way we prepared,” UF
head coach Amanda Butler said. “The midset our team had in practice and not
being discouraged when it would be real easy coming off that disappointment at
Arkansas to linger. Throw on top of that a little extra adversity in not having
Jordan Jones available tonight, this win couldn’t be better. I couldn’t be
prouder. It’s an awesome team win. Historically, we haven’t played well here at
LSU so it’s a great program win, as well.”
