TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— Florida opened SEC play against No. 19 Alabama on Thursday night, falling 79–69 at Coleman Coliseum. The Gators had four players reach double figures with 11 or more points, while six contributed in rebounding. Overall, UF shot 46.4 percent from the floor and held a 35–32 edge on the boards.

Freshman Liv McGill led the offense with 18 points, marking her 13th double-digit scoring game of the season. Ra Shaya Kyle anchored the defense with 13 rebounds, raising her season average to 10.1.

How It Happened

First Quarter:

• Florida managed just 12 points, their lowest of the game.
• Alexia Gassett grabbed two of the team’s five rebounds.
• McGill picked up two fouls in the opening five minutes.
• UF connected on 50 percent of its three-point attempts (2-of-4).
• Alabama led 21–12 at the end of the quarter.

Second Quarter:

• Florida went 6-of-7 from the field in the first five minutes, trimming the deficit to six (31–25).
• The Gators shot a game-best 64.3 percent (9-of-14).
• Fourteen of their 19 points came in the paint.
• Laila Reynolds went perfect from the field (3-of-3) for six points.
• Kyle pulled down four rebounds.
• UF out-rebounded Alabama 11–3.
• At halftime, Florida trailed 41–31.

Third Quarter:

• The Gators shot a game-low 29.4 percent (5-of-17).
• Jeriah Warren scored six of Florida’s 15 points.
• UF hit 80 percent from three (4-of-5).
• Kyle collected six of the team’s 11 rebounds.

Fourth Quarter:

• Florida scored a game-high 23 points.
• McGill added eight points.
• The Gators went 7-of-11 from the free throw line.
• UF cut Alabama’s lead to 10 with one minute remaining (79–69).
• Florida forced five turnovers, their most of the game.

Worth Noting

• Four Gators finished in double figures: McGill (18), Warren (12), Gassett (12), and Kyle (11).
• McGill has now led Florida in scoring eight times this season.
• UF recorded a season-high 50 percent from three-point range (9-of-18).
• Six players contributed to Florida’s 35 rebounds.
• Kyle led the team in rebounding for the 13th time this season and 36th in her career.
• Kyle posted her ninth double-double of the year and 21st at UF, keeping her among the nation’s top 10.
• Seven Gators recorded at least one assist, totaling 11.
• Florida has scored 20+ points in 34 of 60 quarters this season.
• Twenty-six of their 69 points came in the paint.
• UF logged 65 possessions in the game.
• The Gators converted seven layups on 18 drives.

CAREER HIGHS:

Gator Bites

Head coach Kelly Rae Finley shared her perspective on the matchup with Alabama and Florida’s effort:

"We were really focused, we had a great week of practice leading up to this game, but Alabama is a really good team and a good challenge. They are a bunch of veterans at every position … I thought we played with much more poise than we have against other opponents with similar caliber. Overall, it is conference play and we get another opportunity on Sunday against Georgia."

Team Records

Florida: 9–6 (0–1 SEC)

Alabama: 14–1 (1–0 SEC)

Series Record

Alabama holds a narrow edge in the all-time series, leading Florida 33–30.

Next Up

Florida heads back to Gainesville to host the Georgia Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon. This will be the Gators’ second SEC contest of the season, tipping off at noon and airing on SECN.

Georgia (8–7, 0–1 SEC)

• Date: Sun., Jan. 5
• Time: 12 p.m. ET
• Venue: Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center
• Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM
• Watch: SECN
• Live stats: StatBroadcast
• Tickets
• Promotional Giveaway: 400 lunchboxes presented by O2B Kids