Florida Women’s Basketball Dominates to Advance in SEC Tournament
With 7:51 left in the second quarter, Liv McGill drove into the paint and finished a layup to push Florida’s lead to 26-13. As Mississippi State called timeout inside Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, the First Team All-SEC guard turned toward the crowd and shouted, “Let’s Go!” The energy stayed with Florida the rest of the afternoon.
The Gators (18-14) kept their NCAA Tournament dreams alive Wednesday afternoon, dismantling the Mississippi State Bulldogs (18-13) 86-68 in the first round of the SEC Tournament. Florida never trailed in the game and the win marked the largest SEC Tournament victory in program history.
Florida established control early. The Gators scored eight of the first 10 points and forced nine Mississippi State turnovers in the opening quarter to take a 21-11 lead.
The advantage continued to grow in the second period. Me’Arah O’Neal caught fire from deep, scoring 11 points in the quarter and hitting three 3-pointers as Florida extended the lead to 46-30 at halftime.
Florida effectively ended the contest after the break. A 26-16 third quarter pushed the lead to 26 points heading into the final period.
Mississippi State star Madison Francis, an All-SEC Freshman Team and All-Defensive Team selection, fouled out late in the period and finished with nine points after never finding a rhythm.
McGill and O’Neal, the second-year pair, led the way for Florida. McGill recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 assists while adding seven rebounds. It was her third game this season with at least 20 points and 10 assists, the most in the country this season. O’Neal matched her with 22 points while shooting 7-for-12 from the field and 4-for-6 from 3-point range.
“They’re the most productive sophomore duo in the country for a reason,” Florida coach Kelly Rae Finley said. “Their understanding and their IQ of the game and just how they prepare and their relationship together really sets them apart.”
Florida assistant coach Daniel Boice credited the team defense that held Mississippi State to 35 percent shooting. McGill anchored the effort with two steals and two blocks.
“Defensively the game plan was going to require all five of us on the floor to be able to handle Mississippi State,” Boice said on the Gator Sports Network from Learfield. “It’s not one on one defense, it’s five guarding one.”
McGill said preparation helped her handle the moment.
“I prepared for it in the offseason for moments like this,” she said. “I train very hard so when I step on the court the game comes easy.”
Florida shot the ball extremely well all afternoon, finishing at 50 percent from the field, 38 percent from beyond the arc and 79 percent at the charity stripe.
Destiney McPhaul and Favour Nwaedozi led Mississippi State with 12 points apiece. Nwaedozi added 10 rebounds for a double double.
Mississippi State has dropped five straight games. One of those came less than two weeks ago when Florida defeated the Bulldogs 71-56 in Starkville behind 30 points from McGill. The Gators have now won four straight in the series.
Finley believes her team has shown enough to compete beyond Greenville.
“I’ll just go out and say it,” Finley said. “I think we’re an NCAA Tournament team.”
Florida will look to continue its momentum and a run toward an SEC Tournament title Thursday at 1:30 p.m. against fifth-seeded and seventh-ranked Oklahoma (23-6). The Gators nearly upset the Sooners in February before falling 81-74 after surrendering a 13-point lead in Norman.
On a neutral floor, Florida will get another chance at revenge.
Category: College Basketball, Feature Sports News, Gators Women's Basketball, SEC, Women's College Basketball
