
GAINESVILLE, Fla.
—
Liv McGill poured in 17 of her game-high 32 points during the second quarter, while "Nidi" Yiech secured her first career double-double as the Florida Women's Basketball Team moved to 9-2 on Sunday with a 75-61 victory over visiting South Alabama.
KEY RUNS
1st Quarter (Jaguars 16, Gators 11)
- Throughout much of the opening quarter, neither side held an advantage greater than four points. However, South Alabama closed the period with a five-point run, securing the lead after the first 10 minutes. The Jaguars connected on four of their five attempts from beyond the arc, while the Gators came up empty on all four of their long-range shots. South Alabama's Cordasia Harris was perfect from the field, converting all three of her attempts and finishing the quarter with six points, four rebounds, and two steals.
2nd Quarter (Gators 43, Jaguars 30)
- South Alabama built an early five-point cushion at 18-13, and still held a 26-22 lead with 4:43 remaining in the quarter. Florida responded with an 11-0 run and closed the half by scoring 21 of the final 27 points, taking a 13-point advantage into the break. Liv McGill delivered a standout performance, tallying 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting while also recording five steals. The Jaguars struggled with ball control, committing 13 turnovers in the period.
3rd Quarter (Gators 58, Jaguars 48)
- South Alabama trimmed Florida’s lead to 49-40 with 5:21 left in the third quarter, but the Gators answered with a 9-0 run to extend the margin to 18. The Jaguars closed the period strong, scoring the final eight points to cut the deficit back to 10. Florida struggled with ball security, committing five turnovers, while South Alabama played cleanly without any. McGill paced all scorers with seven points, while Harris and Amyah Sutton each contributed six to lead the Jaguars.
4th Quarter (Gators 75, Jaguars 61)
- The Jaguars opened the fourth quarter strong, scoring seven of the first nine points to cut the margin to 60-55. Florida quickly responded, however, with a decisive 12-1 run that stretched the lead and sealed control of the game. McGill added eight points in the period, while the Gators closed efficiently, hitting five of 10 attempts from the field and converting six of eight free throws to secure the victory.
KEY STATS
- Florida shot 46.7% from the field (28-60), while the Jaguars finished at 35.9% (23-64).
- From three-point range, the Jaguars converted 7 of 16, while the Gators went 4 of 18.
- At the free-throw line, Florida made 15 of 22, compared to the Jaguars’ 8 of 13.
- The Gators controlled the paint, outscoring the Jaguars 44-32 inside.
- Florida forced South Alabama into 20 turnovers, turning them into 26 points.
- The Jaguars caused 16 Florida miscues, which they converted into 14 points.
FROM THE GATORS' MOUTHS
- Coach Finley on Nidi's minutes continuing to increase and how she has improved to gain more playing time…
- "She's getting closer and closer to how she plays. You can see her becoming more and more comfortable on the floor. She's a competitor, she's versatile. She's a defensive utility player, an offensive utility player, she can play three-four-five. She understands competition. She was coached by a very talented high school coach, Coach Kip. Like he would say, outside dogs only. And that's what you're starting to see from her on the floor. We can count on her for that rebound, we can count on her for an extra possession. She shoots the three very well, she can go inside and outside and her versatility helps us be better."
- Coach Finley on the defensive effort of holding the opposing team's leading scorers below their average…
- "Alexia Dizeko is battling some aches and she always gives us her best. Not necessarily her greatest shooting night, I know she would like to be better in that area, but she's capable of more. That's what she would tell you. If what she has for us is to hold their leading scorer well below their average, that makes the Gators better and that's good for us."
- Liv McGill on Nidi as a player and contributing in different ways each game…
- "Nidi is a very good glue player and she can do a lot of things on our team. She can play two through five, and whatever coach asks her to do she does it. She was very attentive at being urgent, like she said. And she rises to the moment, she rises to the occasion whether it's rebounding, finishing, giving energy, guarding the five, guarding the one, she can do a lot of things on the floor."
- Liv McGill on the defensive effort to hold their leading scorer below their season average in the game…
- "I would say a big shout out to Alexia Dizeko. She gives it all, Coach Kelly says it a lot, but she thrives in her job, her position and what we need her to do which is stop the key player and she does that day in and day out."
- "Nidi" Yiech on what fueled her performance throughout the game…
- "Even before the game, Coach Dan harped on urgency and so that was kind of going through my brain the whole time. Just not stopping and going for every rebound."
Post Game Press Conference: Head Coach Kelly Rae Finley
Post Game Press Conference: Liv McGill and "Nidi" Yiech
GATOR BITES
- The Gators are now 7-3 all-time against South Alabama.
- The Gators have held each of their 11 opponents this season below 70 points.
- "Nidi" Yiech scored 14 points after scoring just three over her previous four games. She added a career-high 10 rebounds for her first career double-double.
- Liv McGill scored in double figures for the 12th straight game (32 points), 20 or more points for the eighth time this season and the 22nd time in her career, and 30 or more points for the third time this season and in her career.
- Florida's 32-point second quarter is tied for the most points they have scored in a quarter this season (Nov. 3, 3rd quarter vs. North Florida).
- Alexia Dizeko has made her last 13 consecutive free throws dating back to last season (two for two today).
NEXT OPPONENT
The Gators will take a week-long break before returning to Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Sunday, Dec. 14 for a matchup with West Georgia. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST and will air on SECN+.











