Florida head coach Amanda Butler and her women’s basketball team (12-13, 4-8 SEC) are headed into their second to last home game of the season Thursday night against Vanderbilt (13-12, 4-8 SEC). The Gators defeated the Commodores in Nashville on February 1st, 67-58.
“Vanderbilt is real effective at running – they do a great job of getting back in transition and it’s very difficult to generate offense against them. We’re a lot more concerned about our transition defense because they do a great job of getting out and running,” said Butler.
In the first game the Gators outscored the Commodores 32-22 in the first half while shooting 48% from the floor and the Gators shot 52% for the game. Kayla Lewis led the team with 18 points followed by Cassie Peoples with 11. January Miller and Carlie Needles both finished with 10.
“We did play them earlier this season so we have some idea of what to expect. Vanderbilt is smart in transition. They are a very good, smart, heady team and we have to be ready for them” said Miller.
Entering Thursday night’s game, Kayla Lewis says she is also still very familiar with Vanderbilt’s style of play.
“I remember us doing a really good job of rebounding and we had a lot of transition points. January [Miller] got out, Ronni [Williams] and I got out a couple times so scoring in the open court was good for us. Also, they switch a lot so we need to take advantage of the switches,” said Lewis.
Florida has lost two of their last three games with losses to Tennessee and Mississippi State with the win coming at Georgia, a team the Gators will face at home on March 1st. Florida is in a three team tie for eighth place in the SEC.
Tip-off is set for 7p.m. in the O’Connell Center. You can listen to the game right here on ESPN 850 WRUF, with coverage beginning at 6:45.